A bomb blowing up in a plane doesn't automatically make it crash.

[Wonk]

For example:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/2/newsid_4357000/4357159.stm

Four people, including an eight-month old baby, have been sucked out of a TWA passenger jet after an explosion ripped a hole in its side.

The Boeing 727 was flying at 11,000 feet (3,350 metres) over Greece, on its way to Athens, when the bomb went off.

It blew a hole six feet by three feet (2m x 1m) wide under a window in front of the starboard wing.

It is believed the explosion happened at floor level in the passenger compartment itself.

(snip)

The remaining 118 passengers and crew survived.




More examples:
http://www.airsafe.com/events/us_bomb.htm

25 July 57, Western Airlines CV-240, near Daggett, CA: Bomb explodes in lavatory 17 minutes after takeoff, CA, plane lands successfully, one killed.

11 August 82, Pan Am 747, near Hawaii: The aircraft was en route from Japan to the U.S. when a bomb exploded under a seat, killing one passenger.





And then there's Aloha Airlines flight 243, which despite looking like this

was still able to land. One crew member was blown out of the airplane and another 65 passengers and crew were injured, 8 severely, but they lived through the experience.




Can a bomb bring down a plane? Yes. Do all bombs on planes bring those planes down killing everyone on board? No.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. The Aloha Airlines photo is still amazing...

I remember seeing it years ago. The passengers obviously obeyed orders to stay strapped in and the pilot did a damned good job.

Boggles the mind.

[pitohui]

2. ho-kay

but it don't usually do the plane much good either

i would rather not have bombs on my plane

that doesn't mean it's acceptable to refuse to allow water, chapstick, contact lens solution, or the dreaded gatorade on my flight -- people need liquid for health

[Yupster]

8. Agree pitohui

People get shot in the head and survive too, but still I'll avoid that as much as I can too.

[madame defarge]

3. And given the current climate of fear...

My belief is that the passengers will gang up on/take out anyone trying to take down the plane. They may all lose their lives, but they won't let another 9/11 happen. (Or maybe I just have too much faith in humankind...)

[Rose Siding]

4. If terror is the objective, that doesn't really matter

I'd imagine that terror and disruption of society are at least as prized, if not more, than the body count.

[ThomWV]

5. Remember The Hawian Plane That Lost Its Entire Top?

Well, that was pure dumb shit good luck. Blow a good size hole in one seven miles up and half way across the Atlantic and you can bet its never gonna see shore again.

[Bobbieo]

6. My flying days are over!!!

Not because I am afraid. I am just too GD old to put up with all of this hassle at airports these days.

[medeak]

7. F-15 lands with one wing

anyone ever see this amazing video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aKxAN7bAs