At 11:38 AM 3/4/96 +1000, Greg Rose wrote:

At 2:49 PM 3/3/96 -0500, Dr. Dimitri Vulis wrote: One of the private pilot magazines reported that a small plane operator used the code (because his airplane was, in fact, being hijacked). When he landed the airplane, it was surrounded by LEA, and in the ensuing gun battle, everyone on the airplane died. The went on to say that the safety of the passengers and airplane are the pilot's primary responsibility and that pilots should consider this incident when deciding to use the code.

Actually, that is an urban legend which grew out of a real incident. What actually happened was that they thought the private pilot couldn't really have been hijacked, so when he landed *he* was arrested for creating a public nuisance or something. It wasn't till later, when they found the shotgun-toting druggie, that they believed him...

Greg Travis was the pilot's name, I imagine AltaVista might find his original posting.

My posting, not Dr. Dimitri Vulis'. I certainly don't remember your version as the one I personally read. The magazine could have been wrong, but I don't think my memory of the article is far enough off for them to be the same incident BTW - I think the magazine was "Flying". Regards - Bill ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bill Frantz | The CDA means | Periwinkle -- Computer Consulting (408)356-8506 | lost jobs and | 16345 Englewood Ave. frantz@netcom.com | dead teenagers | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA