FBI Knew Terrorists Were Using Flight Schools 㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ
By Steve Fainaru and James V. Grimaldi 㰀倀㸀䘀攀搀攀爀愀氀 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀椀攀猀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 愀眀愀爀攀 昀漀爀 礀攀愀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀甀猀瀀攀挀琀攀搀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀猀 眀椀琀栀 ഀ
ties to Osama bin Laden were receiving flight training at schools in the United 匀琀愀琀攀猀 愀渀搀 愀戀爀漀愀搀Ⰰ 愀挀挀漀爀搀椀渀最 琀漀 椀渀琀攀爀瘀椀攀眀猀 愀渀搀 挀漀甀爀琀 琀攀猀琀椀洀漀渀礀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Three days after the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, FBI 䐀椀爀攀挀琀漀爀 刀漀戀攀爀琀 匀⸀ 䴀甀攀氀氀攀爀 䤀䤀䤀 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀搀 爀攀瀀漀爀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀椀樀愀挀欀攀爀猀 ഀ
had received flight training in the United States as "news, quite obviously," 愀搀搀椀渀最Ⰰ ∀䤀昀 眀攀 栀愀搀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀漀漀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 挀愀猀攀Ⰰ 眀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 ⴀⴀ 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 漀渀攀 ഀ
could have averted this."
Washington Post Staff 圀爀椀琀攀爀猀㰀䈀刀㸀匀甀渀搀愀礀Ⰰ 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㈀㌀Ⰰ ㈀ 㬀 倀愀最攀 䄀㈀㐀 㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀ഀ
Connections between terrorists and flight training include the following:
㰀倀㸀ff䤰渀 㤀㤀㘀Ⰰ 琀眀漀 昀氀椀最栀琀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀漀爀猀 猀愀椀搀 氀愀猀琀 眀攀攀欀Ⰰ 䘀䈀䤀 愀最攀渀琀猀 瘀椀猀椀琀攀搀 琀栀攀洀 ഀ to obtain information about several Arab pilots connected to a Pakistani 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 攀瘀攀渀琀甀愀氀氀礀 挀漀渀瘀椀挀琀攀搀 漀昀 瀀氀漀琀琀椀渀最 琀漀 戀漀洀戀 唀⸀匀⸀ 愀椀爀氀椀渀攀爀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀThe flight schools, Coastal Aviation of New Bern, N.C., and Richmor Aviation 漀昀 匀挀栀攀渀攀挀琀愀搀礀Ⰰ 一⸀夀⸀Ⰰ 眀攀爀攀 琀眀漀 漀昀 昀漀甀爀 琀栀愀琀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀搀 昀氀椀最栀琀 琀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 琀漀 䄀戀搀甀氀 ഀ Hakim Murad in the early 1990s, according to Philippine authorities. Murad was 愀爀爀攀猀琀攀搀 椀渀 䴀愀渀椀氀愀 椀渀 㤀㤀㔀 愀渀搀 氀愀琀攀爀 挀漀渀瘀椀挀琀攀搀 椀渀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 漀昀 瀀氀漀琀琀椀渀最 琀漀 戀氀漀眀 ഀ up a dozen U.S. airliners over the Pacific, then crash a suicide plane into CIA 栀攀愀搀焀甀愀爀琀攀爀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
・In 1998, FBI agents questioned officials from Airman Flight School in 一漀爀洀愀渀Ⰰ 伀欀氀愀⸀Ⰰ 愀戀漀甀琀 愀 最爀愀搀甀愀琀攀 氀愀琀攀爀 椀搀攀渀琀椀昀椀攀搀 椀渀 挀漀甀爀琀 琀攀猀琀椀洀漀渀礀 愀猀 愀 瀀椀氀漀琀 ഀ for bin Laden, according to Dale Davis, the school's director of operations.
㰀倀㸀ff吰栀椀猀 礀攀愀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 琀爀椀愀氀 漀昀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 㤀㤀㠀 戀漀洀戀椀渀最猀 漀昀 唀⸀匀⸀ ഀ embassies in Kenya and Tanzania yielded documents containing several references 琀漀 昀氀椀最栀琀 猀挀栀漀漀氀猀 愀渀搀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 瀀椀氀漀琀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ・Two weeks before the Sept. 11 attack, Davis said, FBI agents returned to 一漀爀洀愀渀 猀攀攀欀椀渀最 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 愀戀漀甀琀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 䄀椀爀洀愀渀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀Ⰰ 愀 䘀爀攀渀挀栀ⴀ䴀漀爀漀挀挀愀渀 ഀ dropout who had entered the country on a visa sponsored by the flight school. 吀栀攀 洀愀渀Ⰰ 娀愀挀愀爀椀愀猀 䴀漀甀猀猀愀漀甀椀Ⰰ 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 搀攀琀愀椀渀攀搀 椀渀 䔀愀最愀渀Ⰰ 䴀椀渀渀⸀Ⰰ 漀渀 愀渀 ഀ immigration violation after he tried to purchase time on a jet simulator -- even 琀栀漀甀最栀 栀攀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 昀氀漀眀渀 猀漀氀漀 椀渀 愀 猀椀渀最氀攀ⴀ攀渀最椀渀攀 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
One government witness in the embassy-bombing trial, Essam al-Ridi, testified 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 栀愀搀 琀愀欀攀渀 挀氀愀猀猀攀猀 愀渀搀 琀愀甀最栀琀 愀琀 琀栀攀 渀漀眀ⴀ搀攀昀甀渀挀琀 䔀搀 䈀漀愀爀搀洀愀渀 䄀瘀椀愀琀椀漀渀 ഀ School in Fort Worth. Al-Ridi also said that in the mid-1990s, he purchased a 甀猀攀搀 匀愀戀攀爀ⴀ㐀 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀 漀渀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀✀猀 戀攀栀愀氀昀 昀漀爀 ␀㈀ Ⰰ 椀渀 吀甀挀猀漀渀⸀ 䄀渀漀琀栀攀爀 ഀ witness in the same bombing trial, L'Houssaine Kerchtou, testified that he was 猀攀渀琀 琀漀 愀 昀氀椀最栀琀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 椀渀 一愀椀爀漀戀椀 愀渀搀 氀愀琀攀爀 猀攀爀瘀攀搀 愀猀 愀 瀀椀氀漀琀 昀漀爀 戀椀渀 ഀ Laden.
㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 椀猀猀甀攀 漀昀 栀漀眀 唀⸀匀⸀ 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀椀攀猀 瀀爀漀挀攀猀猀攀搀 攀愀爀氀礀 眀愀爀渀椀渀最 猀椀最渀猀 琀栀愀琀 ഀ terrorists were taking advantage of the flight school system is certain to be 攀砀愀洀椀渀攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀昀琀攀爀洀愀琀栀 漀昀 琀栀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀⸀ 匀甀稀愀渀渀攀 䔀⸀ 匀瀀愀甀氀搀椀渀最Ⰰ 攀砀攀挀甀琀椀瘀攀 ഀ director of the National Commission on Terrorism, a congressionally appointed 琀愀猀欀 昀漀爀挀攀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ∀䤀渀 栀椀渀搀猀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 眀攀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀 栀漀眀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀猀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 嬀昀氀椀最栀琀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 ഀ connections] might be relevant and important." But, she said, "it is harder on a 搀愀礀ⴀ琀漀ⴀ搀愀礀 戀愀猀椀猀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 椀猀 渀漀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最礀 挀漀甀氀搀 栀攀氀瀀 猀漀爀琀 ഀ information."㰀倀㸀匀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 䘀䈀䤀 栀愀猀 攀砀琀攀渀搀攀搀 椀琀猀 椀渀瘀攀猀琀椀最愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 搀漀稀攀渀猀 漀昀 昀氀椀最栀琀 ഀ schools coast to coast, including some of the same schools it visited in the 礀攀愀爀猀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀栀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀⸀ 䄀挀挀漀爀搀椀渀最 琀漀 氀愀眀 攀渀昀漀爀挀攀洀攀渀琀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 愀渀搀 瀀爀攀猀猀 ഀ reports, the 19 suspected terrorists received flight training from at least 10 唀⸀匀⸀ 昀氀椀最栀琀 猀挀栀漀漀氀猀⸀ 䄀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 㐀㐀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 猀漀甀最栀琀 戀礀 琀栀攀 䘀䈀䤀 昀漀爀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀椀渀最 ഀ received some flight instruction.㰀倀㸀䐀椀攀琀爀椀挀栀 䰀⸀ 匀渀攀氀氀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 栀攀氀瀀攀搀 瀀爀漀猀攀挀甀琀攀 䴀甀爀愀搀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 琀栀愀琀 愀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 ഀ Pakistani terrorist attended four U.S. flight schools, it would have been 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 䘀䈀䤀 琀漀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀 琀栀攀 猀挀栀漀漀氀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 愀琀琀愀挀欀 ഀ that occurred Sept. 11.㰀倀㸀䴀甀爀愀搀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 栀愀搀 椀渀搀椀挀愀琀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 甀猀攀 栀椀猀 昀氀椀最栀琀 琀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 琀漀 ഀ become a commercial pilot until he was recruited by Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, a bin 䰀愀搀攀渀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀瘀攀 眀栀漀 愀氀猀漀 瀀氀漀琀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 㤀㤀㌀ 圀漀爀氀搀 吀爀愀搀攀 䌀攀渀琀攀爀 戀漀洀戀椀渀最⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ"I think that because Murad had been trained as a pilot it's tempting in 栀椀渀搀猀椀最栀琀 琀漀 猀愀礀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀攀愀甀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 欀渀漀眀渀Ⰰ∀ 猀愀椀搀 匀渀攀氀氀⸀ ∀䈀甀琀 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 ഀ they were missing any link that would have connected the flight schools to this 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
The Murad investigation showed that Murad and Yousef were planning to employ 昀椀瘀攀ⴀ洀愀渀 琀攀愀洀猀 琀漀 猀洀甀最最氀攀 戀漀洀戀猀 漀渀 琀漀 ㈀ 瀀氀愀渀攀猀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀搀 戀礀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 䄀椀爀氀椀渀攀猀Ⰰ ഀ Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines during a two-day period in 1995. 倀爀漀猀攀挀甀琀漀爀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 唀⸀匀⸀ 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀搀 琀栀攀 瀀氀漀琀 愀猀 ∀漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 ഀ hideous crimes anyone ever conceived."
㰀倀㸀䴀甀爀愀搀 挀漀渀昀攀猀猀攀搀 琀漀 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀椀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 栀椀猀 瀀氀愀渀渀攀搀 爀漀氀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 琀攀爀爀漀爀 ഀ attack was to crash a plane into CIA headquarters in Langley.㰀倀㸀刀椀挀栀愀爀搀 䬀愀礀氀漀爀Ⰰ 洀愀渀愀最攀爀 漀昀 刀椀挀栀洀漀爀 䄀瘀椀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 琀栀攀 䘀䈀䤀 眀愀猀 昀椀爀猀琀 愀氀攀爀琀攀搀 ഀ to the Schenectady flight school after a Richmor business card was discovered in 䴀甀爀愀搀 愀渀搀 夀漀甀猀攀昀✀猀 䴀愀渀椀氀愀 愀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀⸀ 㰀⼀倀㸀ഀKaylor said two FBI agents came to interview him about Murad in 1996. He said 栀攀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀搀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 愀戀漀甀琀 䴀甀爀愀搀 愀渀搀 琀眀漀 漀琀栀攀爀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀 瀀椀氀漀琀猀Ⰰ 戀漀琀栀 漀昀 眀栀漀洀 ഀ lived with Murad. Kaylor said the three men had come to Schenectady after a 猀琀椀渀琀 愀琀 䄀氀瀀栀愀 吀愀渀最漀 䘀氀礀椀渀最 匀攀爀瘀椀挀攀猀 椀渀 匀愀渀 䄀渀琀漀渀椀漀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Kaylor said four FBI agents returned Friday to Richmor to question him about 愀 吀甀爀欀椀猀栀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀 眀栀漀 栀愀搀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀搀 栀椀猀 瀀爀椀瘀愀琀攀 瀀椀氀漀琀✀猀 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 氀愀猀琀 礀攀愀爀⸀ 䈀甀琀 ഀ Kaylor said it was unclear whether the agents were aware that he had been 椀渀琀攀爀瘀椀攀眀攀搀 昀椀瘀攀 礀攀愀爀猀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀⸀ 㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Whether officials at Alpha Tango were also interviewed in 1996 is unclear. 吀栀攀 昀氀椀最栀琀 猀挀栀漀漀氀✀猀 漀眀渀攀爀Ⰰ 䠀愀洀椀搀 䄀昀稀愀氀Ⰰ 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 戀攀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 昀漀爀 挀漀洀洀攀渀琀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 ഀ the Sept. 11 attack, Afzal contacted the FBI about names on a published list of 猀甀猀瀀攀挀琀猀Ⰰ 戀攀氀椀攀瘀椀渀最 猀漀洀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀椀樀愀挀欀攀爀猀 洀椀最栀琀 愀氀猀漀 栀愀瘀攀 琀愀欀攀渀 椀渀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀漀渀 愀琀 ഀ Alpha Tango, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News.
㰀倀㸀倀愀甀氀 倀爀漀挀琀漀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 昀漀爀洀攀爀 漀眀渀攀爀 漀昀 䌀漀愀猀琀愀氀 䄀瘀椀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 䴀甀爀愀搀 琀漀氀搀 ഀ investigators he had attended, said he could not recall whether the convicted 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 栀愀搀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀搀 栀椀猀 挀漀洀洀攀爀挀椀愀氀 瀀椀氀漀琀✀猀 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀椀氀椀琀礀⸀ 䈀甀琀 栀攀 ഀ said he "wouldn't be surprised," because an FBI agent searched his files about 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 琀椀洀攀 愀最攀渀琀猀 眀攀爀攀 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最 刀椀挀栀洀漀爀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀProctor said that the FBI agent never disclosed the purpose of the visit, but 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 愀猀欀攀搀 琀漀 猀攀攀 琀栀攀 昀椀氀攀猀 昀漀爀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀猀 漀昀 䄀爀愀戀 搀攀猀挀攀渀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 愀最攀渀琀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀攀搀 ഀ names, passport information and flight training records, according to Proctor. 䄀猀 琀栀攀 愀最攀渀琀 眀愀猀 昀椀渀椀猀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 倀爀漀挀琀漀爀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ∀䤀 洀愀搀攀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 挀漀洀洀攀渀琀 愀戀漀甀琀 ഀ hijacking an airplane or terrorism. He said, 'Don't even say that.' That was 漀戀瘀椀漀甀猀氀礀 眀栀愀琀 栀攀 眀愀猀 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 昀漀爀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Proctor, whose company ceased operations in 1997, said he had already been 猀甀猀瀀椀挀椀漀甀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 愀 猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀 最爀漀甀瀀 漀昀 䄀爀愀戀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 琀眀漀 漀昀 眀栀漀洀 栀愀搀 愀爀爀椀瘀攀搀 愀琀 ഀ the school on North Carolina's coast from New York City in a taxicab. The 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀猀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 栀愀搀 瀀爀椀瘀愀琀攀 瀀椀氀漀琀猀✀ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀 愀渀搀 栀愀搀 挀漀洀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 琀漀 ഀ receive advanced training to fly multi-engine aircraft, Proctor said.
㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 搀愀礀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀猀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 琀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 愀渀搀 氀攀昀琀Ⰰ 倀爀漀挀琀漀爀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ഀ he discovered that a $12,000 instrument radio pack -- including automatic 搀椀爀攀挀琀椀漀渀 昀椀渀搀攀爀Ⰰ 渀愀瘀椀最愀琀椀漀渀 愀椀搀猀 愀渀搀 琀爀愀渀猀瀀漀渀搀攀爀 ⴀⴀ 眀愀猀 洀椀猀猀椀渀最 昀爀漀洀 漀渀攀 漀昀 栀椀猀 ഀ single-engine Cherokee Archers. Proctor said he never reported the theft to 瀀漀氀椀挀攀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 栀攀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀搀 栀攀 栀愀搀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 栀漀瀀攀 漀昀 爀攀挀漀瘀攀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 攀焀甀椀瀀洀攀渀琀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀAbout three years later, FBI agents visited Airman Flight School in Oklahoma 琀漀 椀渀焀甀椀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 䤀栀愀戀 䄀氀椀 一愀眀愀眀椀Ⰰ 愀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀 眀栀漀猀攀 渀愀洀攀 猀甀爀昀愀挀攀搀 ഀ during the trial for the 1998 embassy bombings. Dale Davis, the flight school's 搀椀爀攀挀琀漀爀 漀昀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 一愀眀愀眀椀 漀戀琀愀椀渀攀搀 栀椀猀 挀漀洀洀攀爀挀椀愀氀 瀀椀氀漀琀✀猀 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 昀爀漀洀 ഀ Airman in the early 1990s, then traveled to another school in Oklahoma City to 焀甀愀氀椀昀礀 昀漀爀 愀 爀愀琀椀渀最 琀漀 昀氀礀 猀洀愀氀氀 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
In testimony during the embassy bombing trial, al-Ridi, the government 眀椀琀渀攀猀猀Ⰰ 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀搀 一愀眀愀眀椀 愀猀 愀 瀀椀氀漀琀 昀漀爀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀⸀ 䄀氀ⴀ刀椀搀椀 琀攀猀琀椀昀椀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 ഀ met Nawawi in Khartoum at a time when Nawawi had just graduated from flight 猀挀栀漀漀氀 椀渀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀 愀渀搀 栀愀搀 戀攀最甀渀 琀漀 眀漀爀欀 昀漀爀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Correspondent Doug Struck and researcher Margaret Smith contributed to 琀栀椀猀 爀攀瀀漀爀琀⸀㰀⼀䔀䴀㸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
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