On shooting passengers and skidding planes

The aviation industry sure has had it's share of drama lately. And thankfully, I've not been a part of it. I was inflight at the time the shit went down in MIA and home when the plane in Chicago decided 55th and Central was a better parking spot, than say, gate 35. Both are tragically sad incidents. Based on the available information at this time, I believe the air marshals in Miami acted as trained. There is plenty of time to second guess their actions after the fact, but the reality is, there was very little time for reaction and those marshals had a fraction of a second to make their decision.

Here's my stance: If the passenger claimed to have a bomb, then he had a bomb. We can't second guess, and certainly marshals can't second guess, what the suspect is saying. If you say you have a bomb, then you have a bomb and I'm going to act accordingly. There is no time for psycho-analysis either. A man is dead, and that is sad, but there are consequences for our actions and in this day in age, they can be severe. The public, for the most part, seems to be in support of the marshals. We'd all have a different tune if the suspect did have a bomb and the marshals did not act decisively. It is a sad reminder of how things have changed since 9/11, but also a good reminder that safety has improved, though slightly, and we are a little safer, at least when it comes to flying.

As for the Southwest Airlines crash in Chicago, that's sad too. A little boy died. It seems there may have been a problem with the reverse thrusters which play pivotol roles when landing in slippery conditions. No doubt there will be other factors, as is the case with all aviation accident; they are always caused by multiple failures, never just one.