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Delta flt. escorted back to ATL

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Flyer7SA

Active member
Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Posts
39
I can't figure it out... Why would the FAA request an escort due to a bad squaker, especially when the pilots hadn't lost radio contact???



ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Two National Guard fighter jets escorted a Delta Air Lines plane back to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport on Friday after the plane's transponder malfunctioned shortly after taking off.

The Washington-bound jetliner was intercepted by F-16 jets about 15 minutes after it took off, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado.

It landed at Hartsfield about 10 minutes later. All nine passengers were booked on other flights to Washington's Reagan National Airport.

The transponder sends information about a plane's identity, altitude, speed and direction to air traffic controllers. Controllers have been particularly sensitive about transponder data since the September 11 hijackings, when terrorists switched off the transponders before crashing.

During Friday's incident, the Delta pilots were in continuous communication with air traffic controllers, Delta spokeswoman Peggy Estes said.

She said the problem was determined to be a malfunction and the plane, an MD-88, was being repaired and would be to return to service.

The FAA requested the jet escort at 8 a.m., said Marine Corp. Maj. Mike Snyder, a NORAD spokesman. The fighter jets were sent from Robins Air Force Base, south of Macon.
 
An airliner with no transponder headed to DCA??? Radio contact or not, I think I'll have to side with ATC on this one. They don't know what's going on inside that cockpit.
 
No kidding! Wouldn't you think this flight was worth the good ole "Sorry ladies and gentlemen, due to a mechanical problem..." At least the completion factor didn't drop. ;)
 
I can see why it was only 9 ppl, lol. People that know this area know that it is consistently cheaper to fly in/out of BWI than it is to travel to/from IAD or DCA. This is esp. true for trips along the east coast.

Just a small sample:

DCA/IAD - BOS = $168 (LOL)
BWI - BOS = $68

DCA/IAD - ATL = $130
BWI - ATL = $118

I have yet to be on a flight out of BWI that was less than 90-95% full; and, I fly out of there a lot.

Mad props to carriers like jetBlue, AirTran, and Southwest whose fares make sense!
 
I could see the escort, if the DAL flight in some way deviated from a clearance, or refused to follow instructions. To have escorted it back when it was following instructions was a waste of money. I'm sure that the escort was requested because the FAA was making sure that they were covered.

Meanwhile, the country is still the residence of at least 6000 male illegal aliens from countrys that are known to harbor terrorists.

Yea, we got our priorities straight.

regards
 
I believe, especially in todays world, that it is always better to play it on the safe side.

Meanwhile, the country is still the residence of at least 6000 male illegal aliens from countrys that are known to harbor terrorists.

Not to go off on unrelated tangents, but please. If you think that only illegal aliens can be/are terrorists, that is naive. I'm all for erradicating terrorism, but lets not be blinded by stereotypes.
 
Yeah, anyone can be a terrorist, but so far the terrorists that have struck have fit a certain profile. I say that kicking out 6,000 people that come from countrys that typically produce terrorists is a good start. Remember, these 6,000 people are here illegally. They are lawbreakers and should be dealt with accordingly.
 
The Price of Freedom

Martin,

I don't mind going off on unrelated subjects. Matter of Fact, I'm happy to do so.

MartinFierro said:

Not to go off on unrelated tangents, but please. If you think that only illegal aliens can be/are terrorists, that is naive. I'm all for erradicating terrorism, but lets not be blinded by stereotypes.

This country was designed, according to John Adams, for a self-regulating people. He wrote that it was wholely unsuited for any other kind of people. What that means is that the price of freedom is the necessity to be self-disciplined. It is a privilege to live in this free country. Those 6000 men from suspected terrorist countries lost the right to access the privilege when they broke the law. THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They have no right to residence in this country, and we owe them none of the rights afforded US citizens. Open your politically correct eyes and re-think your position.
 
Been a wave of escorting recently, with the Cessna and all. 9 passengers? Really??
 

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