since we don t know exactly what the distress call was, it may very well not have been a verbal distress call. it could have been the pilot turning the transponder on to the distress signal. we have a code that we put into the transponder that could have alerted everybody else that there was, in fact, an emergency on board the aircraft. why would you use that and not a verbal? it s one of the things we do. if we re very busy in the cockpit and things are happening fast, that is one of the things that you do on your check list. you try to put that transponder signal in. it alerts air traffic control to keep everybody clear of you and give you priority handling. it s a possibility, i m speculating. i ve never heard of something like that essentially it s a panic button. in a sense. what happens is, when you re flyingi flying, in order for them to
with the rescue the first responders to help get the people to where that aircraft is probably going to go into the water. you want to alert air traffic controllers and they will give you a priority handling if you re going to return to a closer airport for an emergency landing. that s what it initially is there for. but in this case i think they were overwhelmed and they were unable to or incapacitated to make that radio call. and they impacted the water. is it a bad sign david, that searchers aren t finding more of the plane wreckage day by day? they found some stuff, but now it s been there s been a lull in discovery. not if there s big pieces out on the ocean floor. but i m really hoping that in bringing the pieces they have i m hoping the other big pieces are part of the aircraft.
have a lot of people scratching their heads. the tsa says first an unruly passenger headed for the cockpit door on an american airlines flight last night from new york to san francisco. passengers helped take him down. on the radio, you can hear the pilot tell the tower, they have a problem. we re going to need priority handling on our arrival. we ve had a passenger conflict here. american 1561, do i have a as soon as at san francisco? american 1561, nor cal approach, going to maintain 6,000, say again, the last thing you said. down to 6,000 and we need priority handling tonight. you are receiving it american 1561. cool, thanks. the man was arrested. another flight houston to chicago, it was forced to land en route, it landed in st. louis after witnesses say a guy went for the exit. passengers jumped in here and they say he put up some fight.
61 maintain. the 6,000 and we need priority handling. you are receiving it. thank you. that flight landed in san francisco. the passenger was arrested. that was the one that tried to go into the cockpit. a continental flight from houston to chicago, forced to land in st. louis, because witnesses say that a guy went for the exit door, passengers also jumped in here and put up a fight to stop him. i hear a scream from the stewardess and see her fly across the thing and so i go running and i see this guy his hands on the door, these two guys trying to hold them. the guy was a bull. i just jumped on his back, put him in the choke. and i also have to say that americans are not going down like that anymore. the men were all up and out in a minute getting him subdued. that passenger was taken off of the plane for questioning.
new information about that passenger with a yemeni passport who charged the cockpit on an american airlines flight to san francisco last night. a law enforcement official says there is nothing to indicate terrorism was involved. that official believes the man has mental health issues. authorities say he got out of his seat in coach, went towards the flight deck and started pounding on the door. the door to where the pilots are. flight attendants tried to push him back. he fought them off. finally the crew along with passengers from first class took him down. put him in flax handcuffs until the plane landed. listen to pilot talk to the tower. american 1561. priority handling. had a conflict here. we re going to need a priority handling on our arrival. american 1561, did i have as soon as possible at san francisco?