Can anyone explain military logic?

[Asher]

So there's a bomb threat on a fully loaded jet airplane.

"Let's fly 2 F-18s right up next to it." Why?

So they could get caught in any explosion? I don't see what they could do flying so close.

Shouldn't they be flying well behind the plane incase they need to shoot it down?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/fighter-jets-escort-plane-into-vancouver-after-bomb-threat/article1570286/

[SlowwHand]

Heat seeking. It doesn't matter. This way they can try and see in the cockpit and still do what may be necessary.

[Asher]

Heat-seeking missiles may not work well shooting at planes right next to you...

And they were in constant communication with the cockpit and it was on its normal flight path. Why would they need to see in?

[Al B. Sure!]

oops

[SlowwHand]

Just because they say something doesn't make it accurate.

[Wiglaf]

This thread is just more proof that Asher has no depth perception. You cannot tell from that photo how close the fighter is, but then what else can you expect from a guy whose penis regularly goes in the wrong hole

[Asher]

Considering the passengers reported looking out the windows and seeing F-18s flying right next to them, I have to imagine they were fairly close.

[DRoseDARs]

This thread is just more proof that Asher has no depth perception. You cannot tell from that photo how close the fighter is, but then what else can you expect from a guy whose penis regularly goes in the wrong hole

This post is just more proof that Wiggly-Puff has no spatial awareness. Dude, if you can identify both the type of jet liner and fighter jet pictured, you can determine their respective sizes and thus figure out how closely they'd need to fly to match the perspective of the picture posted by Asher. Yes, that fighter jet is flying rather closely though perhaps not close enough to take damage.

[Ecofarm]

Proof to hijackers, this plane will not be impacting anything. Not "they say they have fighter planes nearby", "there are fighter planes right here".

Also, it means the passengers do not need to be heroes to prevent further (impact) death. If I (as a passenger) saw a fighter plane nearby, I could relax and not bother with attempts of storming the cabin to prevent an offensive impact. In other words, it is soothing to the passengers that they need not act to prevent further tragedy (unless they think they can wrest control of the aircraft, which is probably not a good idea while in flight anyway).

The planes could probably back off afterwards, assuming they are SURE the hijackers (and potential heroes who might cause more harm than good) have seen it.

It is absolute and real evidence of a de-escalation in potential harm, to everyone (including marshals) on the aircraft.



/thread, you're welcome.


ps. It's not "military logic", it's a police action and simple logic. From a purely militant perspective, there is no reason to allow the bird to remain in existence if hijackers are present. This is why using "military" for police action, or to explain police action, is not sufficient.

[Az]

heh, military logic - oxymoron.

on a more serious note, this actually does make sense, as they do need actual eyes on the cockpit, as well as to create a solid, visible deterrence in any potential hijackers' minds. It's one thing to know there are fighter jets nearby, it's another thing to see them flying next to you.

[Space05us]

I could relax

Oh look a military aircraft outside our plane, they must be getting ready to send in a boarding party to retake control. Oh no, that's right, they only have missiles, they're going to kill us or do nothing at all. Guess I can relax.

[Asher]

I could relax

Oh look a military aircraft outside our plane, they must be getting ready to send in a boarding party to retake control. Oh no, that's right, they only have missiles, they're going to kill us or do nothing at all. Guess I can relax.

[MikeH]

"Let's fly 2 F-18s right up next to it." Why?

As an escort, in case anyone else tries to shoot it down before it bombs its target.

[ColdWizard]

So there's a bomb threat on a fully loaded jet airplane.

"Let's fly 2 F-18s right up next to it." Why?

So they could get caught in any explosion? I don't see what they could do flying so close.

Shouldn't they be flying well behind the plane incase they need to shoot it down?

They can see the cockpit and into the airliner if anyone in the fuselage was able to convey some sort of message. Plus fighters are nimble, they can quickly and easily get into a position to shoot it down. They don't have to be behind it, there's many positions they could fire from with either missiles or guns.

[rah]

God, has no one seen EXECUTIVE DECISION.
The boarding party is in the plane behind, just out of the frame.