Saeed Al-Ghamdi: Saudi Fighter Pilot

[Undesired Walrus]

I've posted this a few times in the mistakes thread but it keeps getting buried under the rubble.

The New Film Loose Change Final Cut claims Saeed Al-Ghamdi on UA93 was a better pilot than Hanjour. Why? Because he was a fighter pilot in Saudi Arabia.

As far as I know, Al-Ghamdi only ever fought in Chechnya, on the ground, and that was for Jihad.

I fear he is being confused with the very much alive Al-Ghamdi who is a airline pilot and got frustrated at being named a suspect in the case.

[JamesB]

I noticed that too. Saeed was a 21 year old college dropout. An unlikely candidate for a fighter pilot. I would imagine this is just another mistaken identity incident. I can't believe they actually tried that argument, especially the DLI one.

[fuelair]

In addition, I am told by pilot and aeronautical types that there is a tad of difference between flying fighters and jumbo jets - such that they are not easily transferable skills.

If true, then that would also mitigate this even if it was the correct person.

[Undesired Walrus]

I noticed that too. Saeed was a 21 year old college dropout. An unlikely candidate for a fighter pilot. I would imagine this is just another mistaken identity incident. I can't believe they actually tried that argument, especially the DLI one.

I smell a redux on the cards!

Do you think this is blind ignorance, or propoganda? I'm outraged!

Why is nobody else?

I'm outraged!

[beachnut]

In addition, I am told by pilot and aeronautical typs that there is a tad of difference between flying fighters and jumbo jets - such that they are not easily transferable skills.

If true, then that would also mitigate this even if it was the correct person.
Flying a jet airliner in clear weather for the purpose of hitting a building is an entry level position. You only real ability is being able to breath, and move your hands. Any kid off the street could do the flying of 9/11.

Factoid 101 - almost anyone can crash into buildings with big modern jets

A fighter pilot would have had a field day with a jet airliner, doing things you would notice; the flying on 9/11 was what my old girlfriend called my driving in 1969, "you drive like my grandmother".

Although a fighter pilot may not be the perfect airline pilot on day one, he would be as good as or better than any airline pilot taking in to account experience and if he was any good in the first place. Fighter pilot, experience big jet pilot, or a kid off the street – they could all meet to goals of hitting buildings and do flying better than 9/11.

But you are correct, if a fighter pilot was flying a big jet, he may have some problems with the response of the big jet, but for the purpose of hitting a building he would have no problems. I cheated, I put some kids in a sim, they never flew before, and they easily hit the WTC. Other people have done the same thing, putting people in sims, and hit buildings with just small prop aircraft experience.

[T.A.M.]

Nothing surprises me. This angle is new, and therefore I am guessing they figured they would slip it in there.

TAM:)

[gumboot]

I believe Saeed al-Ghamdi the Saudi pilot was training to be an Airbus A320 pilot at the time of the 9/11 attacks. He was interviewed by Mohammed Samman for the newspaper Asharq Awsat, which is where the "Still alive" story came from.

When a reporter from Der Spiegel showed Samman the FBI suspect photo released on 27th September, Samman stated that the man he interviewed was not the man in the suspect photo.

According to the Saudi Information Agency there are hundreds of thousands of "Al-Ghamdi's".

-Gumboot

[Undesired Walrus]

From somebody who has read the hijackers section of the 9/11 commission report, do they go into detail with Al-Ghamdi in the matyrdom tapes?

Was he the one who used the 30-years out of date social security card?

[ElMondoHummus]

Here's a question: Where do they get the info that Al-Ghamdi was a fighter pilot to begin with?

[gtc]

Here's a question: Where do they get the info that Al-Ghamdi was a fighter pilot to begin with?

It may have been in one of the articles that have been used to claim that some of the 911 hijackers are still alive. IIRC they interviewed some people with the same names as the hijackers, the fighter pilot named Al-Ghamdi might have been one of them.

[gumboot]

It may have been in one of the articles that have been used to claim that some of the 911 hijackers are still alive. IIRC they interviewed some people with the same names as the hijackers, the fighter pilot named Al-Ghamdi might have been one of them.


He was a commercial airline pilot, not a fighter pilot.

-Gumboot

[Gravy]

MikeW at 911myths covers this quite well.
http://911myths.com/index.php/Hijackers_trained_by_US_military%3F