Post by gwyn on Jan 18, 2022 10:07:59 GMT
How anti-climactic. Intercepting the EgyptAir 737 was so unbelievably badass; what an operation.
flying with lights out^^^^
Then SEAL Team Six, having followed in two transport planes also flying lights out, surround the 737 on the tarmac but don't even get to storm it. International diplomacy, blah, blah, blah.
Earlier during the hijacking, the Achille Lauro's Captain, Gerardo De Rosa, was also something of a hero. He purportedly stood between the hijackers and passengers after two of the hijackers had murdered Klinghoffer on another deck and were next going to kill passenger Mildred Hodes, and De Rosa told them to kill him instead of any more passengers. Stark contrast between Captain De Rosa and this guy:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Schettino
What a wholly unnecessary tragedy the Costa Concordia was. It was beyond avoidable.
Why cruiseship travel is an appealing proposition to anyone is absolutely beyond me.
(If you like Bright Sun Films' Costa Concordia video I recommend their Abandoned series especially the Memphis Pyramid one).
four Grumman F-14 Tomcats (two belonging to VF-74 Be-Devilers and two belonging to VF-103 Sluggers), one Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye (belonging to VAW-125 Tiger Tails), two Grumman A-6 Intruders (belonging to VA-85 Black Falcons) and one Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler (belonging to VAQ-137 Rooks). Additionally, another E-2C, three more F-14s and two electronic intelligence aircraft (a Boeing RC-135 and a Douglas A-3 Skywarrior)
Unknowingly being shadowed by Tomcats, the EgyptAir Boeing 737 sought permission to land at Tunis but was refused. A request for permission to land at Athens was also refused.
The Hawkeye had directed additional Tomcats to close with the airliner, and it began to communicate with the Boeing 737 on a VHF frequency demanding it divert to Sigonella, Italy. When the pilot of the EgyptAir Boeing 737 refused to comply, the Hawkeye gave the command to the Tomcats "Lights on, now!" With the illumination of the American aircraft, the Egyptian pilot suddenly realized he was surrounded by warplanes. The Hawkeye relayed to the Boeing that one way or another they must reach Sigonella. The Egyptian pilot later reported that the American fighter pilots had ordered him to comply with their commands or be shot down. He also stated that the military jets were in such close proximity that he had to request that they give him more room to safely maneuver.
The airliner, flying wing-to-wing with several of the Tomcats, complied with the order to divert to Sigonella, touching down at 6:45 p.m. EST.
The Hawkeye had directed additional Tomcats to close with the airliner, and it began to communicate with the Boeing 737 on a VHF frequency demanding it divert to Sigonella, Italy. When the pilot of the EgyptAir Boeing 737 refused to comply, the Hawkeye gave the command to the Tomcats "Lights on, now!" With the illumination of the American aircraft, the Egyptian pilot suddenly realized he was surrounded by warplanes. The Hawkeye relayed to the Boeing that one way or another they must reach Sigonella. The Egyptian pilot later reported that the American fighter pilots had ordered him to comply with their commands or be shot down. He also stated that the military jets were in such close proximity that he had to request that they give him more room to safely maneuver.
The airliner, flying wing-to-wing with several of the Tomcats, complied with the order to divert to Sigonella, touching down at 6:45 p.m. EST.
Earlier during the hijacking, the Achille Lauro's Captain, Gerardo De Rosa, was also something of a hero. He purportedly stood between the hijackers and passengers after two of the hijackers had murdered Klinghoffer on another deck and were next going to kill passenger Mildred Hodes, and De Rosa told them to kill him instead of any more passengers. Stark contrast between Captain De Rosa and this guy:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Schettino
What a wholly unnecessary tragedy the Costa Concordia was. It was beyond avoidable.
Why cruiseship travel is an appealing proposition to anyone is absolutely beyond me.
(If you like Bright Sun Films' Costa Concordia video I recommend their Abandoned series especially the Memphis Pyramid one).