GRYHZE asked:
SLF here with one question: Why wasn't the plane intercepted by the military? Payne Stewart's plane failed to respond and jets were scrambled pre 9/11.
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) did go on alert during this incident:
"Fighters from two North American Aerospace Defense Command sites were put on alert yesterday for a Northwest Airlines commercial airliner that was not responding to radio calls from the Federal Aviation Administration. Before the fighters could get airborne, FAA re-established communications with the pilots of the Northwest Airlines commercial airliner and subsequently, the NORAD fighters were ordered to stand down. NORAD does not discuss locations of alerts sites."
NORAD takes action for unresponsive aircraft