Reply #21: It took under 20 minutes for the military to intercept a golfer's plane [View All]

[CornField]

When golfer Payne Stewart's plane made only a partial turn (when a much larger turn was indicated on its flight plan) military planes were immediately diverted from training to intercept. (Contrary to what was stated after 9-11, military planes often take off without weapons on board to intercept both private and commercial flights.)

Once initial contact was made and it was understood that the plane might pose a risk to people on the ground, more military pilots from Florida, Oklahoma and North Dakota (with weapons loaded) took turns tracking the plane, until it eventually ran out of fuel and crashed into a non-populated part of South Dakota.

That is standard procedure by both the FAA and DOD and it isn't just limited to this one incident. I believe there were at least 60 incidents of military intercepts in 2001 alone (prior to 9-11).

Further, based on the NORAD press release of Sept. 18, 2001, the two USAF F-15 fighters ordered to intercept UA-175 and the two or three USAF F-16 fighters ordered to intercept AA-77 were flying at only 25.8% and 27.4% of their top speed. (This information was first reported by Scott Shuger -- who died in a scuba accident in June 2002.)