To the Death

“Herndon to Northeast Command: we just got another report from that Naval aircraft — picking up sounds of screams and panic on board Flight 62—someone shouted something about the will of Allah.”

“Copy that, Herndon. Ordering F-16s to close one mile astern Flight 62—port and starboard wing. F-16s reporting 11,000 feet — confirm, please.”

1250 Same Day The White House

The president replaced the receiver. “Arnie,” he said, “we got a couple of F-16s right on ’em heading north up Charles County. ”

“Both armed?”

“Yup. Air-to-air missiles. That was Langley, I guess checking once and for all that I wanted the aircraft obliterated. ”

“Before it obliterates the government of the United States, right?”

“You really think it will?”

“Either that, or it’ll take a swerve at the White House, and I gotta say that doesn’t have much appeal. At least, not right now.”

“Arnie, I followed your advice. Almost three thousand people died on 9/11 because of indecisiveness. That’s not going to happen again. You heard me just say affirmative?”

“I did.”

“That was in answer to the question, Do we have your absolute permission to shoot down Flight 62, if it refuses to obey commands from the tower?”

“That’s a good decision, Paul. You may get some flak about being a little hasty. But nothing like the flak you’ll get if that sonofabitch drives straight through those ten-ton bronze doors to the Capitol and blows up the largest legislative chamber in the world.”

President Bedford shook his head half in bewilderment, half in disbelief.

“C’mon, Paul,” said Admiral Morgan. “Our first president, General Washington, laid the foundation stone for the Capitol over two hundred years ago. It’s your privilege to be the president who saved it.”

Northeast Air Defense Command Center

“Northeast Air Defense Rome to Air Force North: Combat Command, Florida, we’re tracking Flight 62 right now — two F-16s out of Langley, one mile astern and closing, positioned port and starboard. Permission requested for pilots to open fire at will?”

“Air Force North Combat Command, Florida, copy that, permission granted.”

National Air Traffic Control Herndon, Virginia

“Flight 62 reduces speed to 220 knots, altitude 8,000 feet, still descending, approaching Chicamuxen Creek, appears to be following Potomac River. She’s not squawking, repeat not squawking, ignores all communications from U.S. Air Traffic Control.”

“Northeast Air Defense to Herndon: did Flight 62 just make a slight course adjustment?”

“Affirmative, Northeast: Flight 62 came three degrees left toward Wood-bridge. Speed remains 220 knots, still descending rapidly, we’re projecting 5,000 feet over city of Woodbridge — that’s 38.38 North, 77.16 West.”

“Herndon, is she still out over the river?”

“Yessir. Right over the widest part where the stream splits into the wide estuary heading northeast up Occoquan Bay. Right here we got width seven miles.”

“Northeast Air Defense, we’re gonna take her out right now. Over and out.”

Same Day Over the Potomac River Cockpit, U.S. Navy F-16 Fighter-Bomber

“Green Leader roger that, Langley. Weapons armed, firing both missiles starboard engine Boeing 737.”

“OKAY, CHUCK — CLEARANCE RECEIVED — HIT THE PORTSIDE ENGINE RIGHT NOW!”

The four Sidewinder missiles dropped from the wings of the two pursuing U.S. Navy aircraft. All four ignited, accelerating forward. They flashed into their heat-seeking mode, leaving fiery trails as they cleaved through the clear skies, straight toward the massive engines of the 737.

All four hit, blasting the engines to smithereens, blowing apart the wings of the big passenger jet, which lurched forward for perhaps four hundred yards and then turned turtle and plummeted out of the sky. Thunder Bay Airlines Flight 62 twisted and turned in a ball of fire until it plunged, with a thunderous crash, into the Potomac River less than a mile below.