If you are a fighter pilot who was just ordered to fire upon

[jtvang125]

If the intentions of the terrorists was to cause more deaths and destruction would you be able to fire that missile to prevent further harm?

 

[compnovice]

I don't know...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Nope, but then I'm not a fighter pilot.

 

[swtethan]

i would let kurt russel inside the plane take out those fools


executive decision

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: swtethan
i would let kurt russel inside the plane take out those fools


executive decision

As long as Steven Seagal dies in the process.


Seriously, I think I'd do it because I'd know that even though my action would result in the deaths of hundreds of people, my inaction would result in the deaths of thousands.

I just hope the grief over killing so many innocent people wouldn't lead to my eventual suicide.

 

[amish]

greater good

(waiting for someone to get upset)

 

[Cuda1447]

In an instant I would do it.

 

[Atheus]

Yea - this is why I'm not a fighter pilot... actually I'm not a fighter pilot because I failed _one_ of their damn stupid eye tests. Just about off the charts on everything else and because I can't pick the fvcking numbers out of the dots I'm supposed to be color blind? Bolox.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
In an instant I would do it.

same here, but i would have to know the plane would be more or less vaporized causing no chunks to land big enough to kill people on the ground

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Yea - this is why I'm not a fighter pilot... actually I'm not a fighter pilot because I failed _one_ of their damn stupid eye tests. Just about off the charts on everything else and because I can't pick the fvcking numbers out of the dots I'm supposed to be color blind? Bolox.

You may not believe you're colorblind, but if you can't pick the number out of the dots, you are. It's dead easy if you can see full color.

 

[MechaSheeba]

How is it such a hard decision? Lives of a hundred or so people weighed against possibly a few thousand including hundreds of firefighters and police officers i.e. 9/11, is it really so tough?

 

[imported_LoKe]

Yes, but that's just because I'm a little sadistic.

 

[Dacalo]

I think I would do it without hesitation if the plane is a threat and ordered to bring it down, but I would have a long night.

 

[redgtxdi]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
In an instant I would do it.

same here, but i would have to know the plane would be more or less vaporized causing no chunks to land big enough to kill people on the ground

Not your call..........

"We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?"

 

[hellokeith]

If anything, fighter pilots are too quick to shoot something. But this is a very very good thing. Always best to shoot first and ask questions later.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
Always best to shoot first and ask questions later.

...

 

[KillerAngel]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
If anything, fighter pilots are too quick to shoot something. But this is a very very good thing. Always best to shoot first and ask questions later.

I sincerely doubt that.

 

[cessna152]

For sure it would suck to do it.

Might hesitate for a minute. But its an order and I assume the higher ups would have thought it out already and tried any other course of action.

Push the Button

 

[wazzledoozle]

I wouldn't flinch.

 

[AMDZen]

Based on the assumption that all the people on the plane would die anyway? Most definetely!!!

And after 9/11, that would be the first conclusion anyone would draw

 

[Mashed Potato]

Originally posted by: MechaSheeba
How is it such a hard decision? Lives of a hundred or so people weighed against possibly a few thousand including hundreds of firefighters and police officers i.e. 9/11, is it really so tough?

I agree, but we can say this because we are not actually pushing the button. Imagine seeing on the news that 90 families were without mothers, fathers, or children because of the plane you shot down.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: MechaSheeba
How is it such a hard decision? Lives of a hundred or so people weighed against possibly a few thousand including hundreds of firefighters and police officers i.e. 9/11, is it really so tough?

Taking the life of an innocent person should never be "easy".

 

[CKDragon]

This is a very easy decision to make sitting here in my computer chair.

That said, I still believe I would pull the trigger if I were in the cockpit.

One other aspect that popped into my mind, how long do we have to think about it? I think I would be able to reason out the situation within 3-5 seconds that it is absolutely the best choice to shoot down the plane. But what if I only have a split second? I might hesitate...

 

[frankgomez75]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: swtethan
i would let kurt russel inside the plane take out those fools


executive decision

As long as Steven Seagal dies in the process.


Seriously, I think I'd do it because I'd know that even though my action would result in the deaths of hundreds of people, my inaction would result in the deaths of thousands.

I just hope the grief over killing so many innocent people wouldn't lead to my eventual suicide.

same here....
Hard decision.... but like everyone else has said the higher ups have already thought of every other possible solution and have come to this decision for a reason.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Mashed Potato

Originally posted by: MechaSheeba
How is it such a hard decision? Lives of a hundred or so people weighed against possibly a few thousand including hundreds of firefighters and police officers i.e. 9/11, is it really so tough?

I agree, but we can say this because we are not actually pushing the button. Imagine seeing on the news that 90 families were without mothers, fathers, or children because of the plane you shot down.

They would've been without mothers & fathers anyway.

I woudl guess most pilots have already considered this and come to some level of peace (or rationalization) about it.