When Americans travel they feel safer in their car then they do in an airplane, which is sad because the numbers would suggest otherwise. Why is it that the media feels it necessary to over hype situations, and cast doubt on procedures that are time tested and gone over time and time again? Why are people that are there to protect you being consistently shunned and harassed by the media?

The perhaps second most disgusting bit of reporting I have ever seen was done today in a piece on the Federal Air Marshal who deserves a medal for his work the other day when a passenger claimed to have a bomb threw down his backpack and started running. The marshal did exactly what he should of done. He shot that fucker. It’s what I would of done, and what any other security professional in the nation would have done. So why is the media crucifying this poor man, and why is the populous letting them? Let me feed it to you like this: there is nothing wrong with the training that man received, he acted just as he should have.

Contrary to popular media belief it is not horrible that this man died for being a moron, it is actually quite outstanding that this happened. It sent two messages, one, we take the defense of our nation seriously, and two, terrorists don’t even try your BS because you will be shot, your mission will fail and the virgins that supposedly await you will bitch slap you for failing.

I’m writing a letter to Fox, CNN, MSNBC, the Daily Show, and others to petition for the Air Marshals immediate reinstatement. If I’m going to fly I want that man on my flight. America is safer because of him and he should be recognized as a hero, because that is what he is.

So the next person to question this mans actions is going to get an earful try me if you dare.

On the topic of Southwest...There are FAA standards and then there are airline standards. It's reported that the winds at the time resulted in a tailwind on approach. However, Midway structures active runways in coordination with O'hare for traffic issues. In my opinion, the landing and approach were both within the limitations, but they were right on the edge. Sounds like to me that there was a reverse thruster or braking issue.

The air marshall did perform as he was trained, but you must look at America today. Anytime a life is taken, the media will make a large deal out of it. Reason being is because death plucks at the heart strings of America. People want to feel safe, but not watched or living with the "big brother" idea. Regardless, this incident set a precedent for anyone else who tries a similar stunt.

quote:

very difficult piece of runway to negotiate on a nice day

As a pilot myself (although mainly flying helicopters commercially), I can attest to what you're saying about short runways. On the other hand, landing on a short runway in the kind of weather conditions the Southwest flight was in was pushing things a little. Still, I appreciate your sticking up for pilots.

Oh and Shepard Smith, quit trying to crucify the pilot of the plane that crashed in Chicago, it's a very difficult piece of runway to negotiate on a nice day... he did the best he could, so quit trying to pin blame on him... even though you deny it over and over that is exactly what you were trying to do.