Air Marshal bullets

[Orleander]

How would an Air Marshal shoot a hi-jacker without the bullet damaging the plane?
Special technique, angle, bullets, etc?

[sparrow803]

Well....I would think that if they're good enough to be a Marshall - they must be a pretty good shot. So, I would think the slug would be nicely lodged in the hijacker's torso somewhere.

Switch - I think this one is for you.

[Orleander]

Originally posted by bustytatas
So, I would think the slug would be nicely lodged in the hijacker's torso somewhere.

Isn't there a risk of it going all the way through? Even if the bullet has slowed and it wouldn't pierce the plane, it might hurt a passenger. ???

[Orleander]

Originally posted by DC Law
...I carry my standard jacketed hollowpoint +P rounds and I've been given a primer on what to try not to shoot on the aircraft..

Is that a special bullet or a regular bullet? (and no making fun of me if that a dumb question! lol) And can't it hurt a passenger if it goes through the hi-jacker?

[Switchback]

FAMs do NOT use any special ammunition. They use good firearms training and common sense. They carry the Sig P229 in .357sig, with Speer Gold Dots.... the same ammunition I use in my G31 (until I get my Glock 22). This is actually one of the higher velocity duty rounds out there.

They stress good tactics, first and foremost. The FAMs train on defensive tactics more than any fed agency I know. They have an outstanding firearms program and shoot more often than any non-tac guys I officers/agents I know.

I know this because I ajm very good friends with a group of their trainers and train with them regularly. One of their full-time trainers used to be on my SRT.

To clarify a couple things: THERE IS NO REAL DANGER OF DECOMPRESSION FROM FIRING A GUN IN AN AIRPLANE. You might be a little uncomfortable (at most) until the plane gets to a lower altitude, but nothing more. The biggest danger is hitting a hydraulic line or essential electrical line. The FAMs train to shoot ina fashion to minimize the risk of hitting these lines.

[sparrow803]

I'm still not flying, I'm just not. I'd sit next to someone who I thought was an Air Marshall and he would probably turn out to be terrorist. Ain't gonna do it.

[EricTheBald]

I haven't flown in YEARS. I just don't trust the airlines to properly maintain their aircraft.

The airlines should NEVER have been de-regulated.

[jaunt10]

Being an Air Marshall has got to be a very boring job. What are the odds of another terrorist attack in an airplane and an Air Marshall being onboard. there seems to be no action and isnt that what most cops became cops for? Then they run the risk of they themselves dying if that plane goes down. Oh well boring job but someone has to do it.

[Switchback]

Yeah, boring job, but someone does have to do it.

I can tellyou one thing, most of the FAMs I know did it for the MONEY. They pay was outstanding. I know several that left the USMS, DEA and Secret Service for huge raises... and that is not even considering those that retired from a fed agency to go there for a little "double-dipping".

I do know several that have (or are still trying) to get back to the USMS. They are even considering some other offices, versus the ones they left. They hate flying that much!

[darrell]

Im flying out Wednesday the 17th for Orlando for 4 days. Golf, golf, golf, Ybor City in Tampa and of course more Golf. HA HA

[Orleander]

Some days, not so boring. lol And if you're a passenger on this flight, its not like you have many other options.

Former inmate arrested on plane
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A recently released inmate on a Honolulu-to-Seattle flight charged toward the cockpit, shouting that he wanted to see the pilot, and was subdued by undercover air marshals who were on board to monitor him, officials said.

The incident involving the 29-year-old man occurred about 2 1/2 hours into Thursday's Northwest Airlines Flight 924, according to Dave Adams, spokesman for the federal air marshal service. Adams described the man as having a history of violence and mental problems.

The man, whose name was withheld pending arraignment on a charge of interfering with a flight crew, was disruptive before getting on the plane, Adams said.

The man later got up during the flight and knocked into an elderly woman, Adams said. He also screamed "Where's my shirt?" at one point, then charged toward the cockpit shouting that he wanted to see the captain, the spokesman said.

Adams said a federal air marshal identified himself and told the 5-foot-11, 215-pound man to put his hands behind his head. The man refused, and the other two marshals then identified themselves and, after a brief altercation, handcuffed the man, Adams said.

The man was released from the Washington state Department of Corrections' Special Needs Unit last month. State officials contacted air marshals and encouraged them to place agents aboard a Seattle-to-Honolulu flight that the man took November 19, Adams said.

Due to concerns he could endanger people on his return flight, three marshals were assigned to it, he said.

A Northwest Airlines spokesman said the airline was not able to immediately comment on the incident.

[Group9]

Air Marshal is a good job to get if it gets you into the federal system. One of the indicators of how it compares with other federal agent positions is that very few of the federal agents who were selected as interim air marshals TDY immediately after 9-11 applied to be air marshals when the hiring opened up.

And as far as special bullets to keep from piercing the skin of the plane, you have to remember that most jets leak air like sieves anyway and the only thing that keeps it pressurized is constant pumping.

Without saying more, there is a classified study that I'm sure many of the posters on this board are aware of where a detailed examination was made of the effects of bullets fired in planes and the resulting damage. Many of the policies that surround Air Marshall tactics, and federal agent airline training, are based on this experiment.

[dizza]

Wouldn't they just use frangible rounds on an air plane? Still do damage, but when hitting a hard surface, they break into dust. I would assume that they would use something like that for an aircraft.

David

[Switchback]

Nope.

[Orleander]

Originally posted by Switchback
Nope.

Why not?