Hijackers Enjoyed Incredible Success, Given Defenses

• 100 percent success in taking over 4 out of 4 flights.
• Hijackers were armed only with 'box-cutters'.

• Pilots were armed with control sticks.
  • Sudden bank would knock any assailant off their feet.
  • No precedent for pilots surrendering control to hijackers.
• All pilots were ex-military, some combat veterans
• Takeovers subsequent to first extremely unlikely.
  • Flight crews of Flights 175, 77, 93 knew of developing crisis.
  • Flight crews of Flights 93, 77 knew planes were used in kamikazi attacks.
• Pilots failed to notify FAA of crisis.
  • No flight crews keyed 4-digit hijack code.
  • No flight crews radioed distress.