Off the topic of the United plane, but a stolen small aircraft was shot down over the western state of Idaho soon after 9/11. We were in Great Falls, Montana for a fairly short stop after leaving Kalispell, and the First Officer and I wondered about the Sidewinder missiles (real or training versions?), which were then on the wingtips of the Air Guard F-16 fighters in their alert shelters, which we taxied past. It was interesting to me that the FO ( a retired air Force Colonel) already knew about the mysterious tragedy, before we even landed......
As the FO waited on the sizzling buffalo burgers for our FAs, I asked either the Clnc Delivery Controller or the Ground Controller about the incident. He confirmed that it happened, and I decided to not check further into the subject over the radio, and I've never heard or read about this incident anywhere, but apparently the plane was stolen, whether for drugs or not, possibly heading towards or in the general area of a (nuclear?) power plant. My partner did not know whether missiles or cannon were used to destroy the plane. If anyone out there has de-classified, valid info, please post it.
What almost happened around 9/11 in Alaska to a "Pacific Rim" airliner with passengers onboard is also quite disturbing, unless the story is false.
