Killtown's: Did Flight 77 really crash into the Pentagon?

Killtown's

Did Flight 77 really crash into the Pentagon?

intro • official claim • timeline • undamaged lawn • generator oddity • building damage • inside damage • suspicious debris • crash videos
alleged hijackers • unusual passengers • pentagon fatalities • conflicting witnesses • debunking sites • theories • performance report • links

Videos of the 'crash'...

Last updated: 12/04/2006

The Pentagon surveillance photos:

(released May 7, 2002.)

Do you see a Boeing 757 in this Pentagon security photo?

(Photo source: startribune.com)

(Photos source: boston.com. Download.)

Judicial Watch videos of Pentagon security video's: one, two

Doubletree Hotel video just released. Shows no plane:

Hotel security video shows 9/11 Pentagon blast, but no plane
"A hotel security camera video released by the U.S. government showed the explosion that followed the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, but the low-quality recording did not capture an image of the 757 jetliner.
The video, recorded by a security camera at the Doubletree Hotel in Arlington, was released to public interest group Judicial Watch and others who filed a lawsuit seeking the tape and other videos from that day.
CNN filed a Freedom of Information request for the video in February 2002, after the manager of the hotel disclosed its existence to CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and said it had been confiscated by the FBI. CNN's FOI request was denied because at the time the tape was considered evidence in the investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui, who has since been convicted.
There was speculation that this video might show the American Airlines 757 jetliner before it crashed, but a close examination by CNN only revealed the subsequent explosion and no image of the jet. The only known record of the plane is on images from the Pentagon security camera, first broadcast by CNN in March of 2002, and officially released in their entirety May of this year. (Posted 8:43 a.m.)" - CNN (12/02/06)

Earlier prediction: Doubletree video release to 'shock & awe' before election? - killtown.blogspot.com

FBI Withholding 84 More Tapes of Pentagon on 9/11

There are two thoughts on where the Boeing 757 is located in the security photo. Notice that both theories place the Boeing very low and flying practically parallel with the ground...

Official...

Figure 3.3 Aircraft approaching the Pentagon (Photo source: "Pentagon Building Performance Report" [PDF])

"A Pentagon security camera located near the northwest corner of the building recorded the aircraft as it approached the building. Five photographs (figures 3.3 through 3.7), taken approximately one second apart, show the approaching aircraft and the ensuing fireball associated with the initial impact. The first photograph (figure 3.3) captured an image of the aircraft when it was approximately 320 ft (approximately 0.42 second) from impact with the west wall of the Pentagon. Two photographs (figures 3.3 and 3.7), when compared, seem to show that the top of the fuselage of the aircraft was no more than approximately 20 ft above the ground when the first photograph of this series was taken." - Pentagon Building Performance Report [PDF]

"A bright orange fireball is visible in the photographs but the hijacked American Airlines plane is not clearly visible. The first photo shows a small, blurry, white object near the upper right corner – possibly the plane just a few feet above the ground." -Washington Post (3/07/02)

Unofficial...

(Gif source: abovetopsecret.com. Download.)

"Some people don't seem to see perspective correctly. I've zoomed in, and compared the two frames over and over - here is what I see as the airplane. I will repeat, however, that this is terrible evidence due to the horrible quality of the original images. I do believe, however, that the white smoke in the images is caused by one or more damaged engine from the impact with the multiple light poles on the way in (as seen in the above image).
I stuck in a 757 that was at relatively the same angle - except it's banking slightly to starboard instead of to port - hence the ONE wing is out of place. If it was banking slightly to port it would fit perfectly... However, once again - this is entirely subjective and the image quality from the released surveillance camera is not good enough to form a factual opinion." - CatHerder, Evidence That A Boeing 757 Really Did Impact the Pentagon on 9/11

If we take the official story into account, doesn't it seem to suggest the Flight 77 flew in and clipped the tops of some light poles that were located higher up on the interstate road, then dipped down very low and flew parallel across the ground (remember some witnesses, news reports, and debunkers said it touched the ground), then popped back up and angled slightly to the left before striking the first floor of the Pentagon all the while traveling at 530 mph?

This graphic by JP Desmoulins shows the trajectory (purple line) that Flight 77 would have had to fly in at to clip the tops of the lamp poles high up on the road (blue lines) and then enter the 1st floor of the Pentagon (which I would agree). The red dotted line (which I drew in) estimates the trajectory that the official theory seems to suggest if the object in the security photos flying very low and parallel across the ground is indeed Flight 77.

Figure 3.16 Aircraft at impact with the Pentagon (Photo source: Pentagon Building Performance Report [PDF])

► "At 9:38 a.m. on September 11 an airliner was flown into the first story of the Pentagon." [pg. 4]
"Two photographs (figures 3.3 and 3.7), when compared, seem to show that the top of the fuselage of the aircraft was no more than approximately 20 ft above the ground when the first photograph of this series was taken." [pg. 14]
"The Boeing 757 approached the west wall of the Pentagon from the southwest at approximately 780 ft/s. As it approached the Pentagon site it was so low to the ground that it reportedly clipped an antenna on a vehicle on an adjacent road and severed light posts. When it was approximately 320 ft from the west wall of the building (0.42 second before impact), it was flying nearly level, only a few feet above the ground." [pg. 18]
"Eyewitness accounts and photographs taken by a security camera suggest that the aircraft was flying on nearly a level path essentially at grade level for several hundred feet immediately prior to impact." [pg. 35] - Pentagon Building Performance Report

► "At 9:37:46, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, traveling at approximately 530 miles per hour." -9/11 Commission

Why did it take 6 months for the release of these security camera photo's and who released them?

► "Officials from the Pentagon said the photos were not released officially by the Department of Defense. A Pentagon spokeswoman could not verify that they came from surveillance cameras.
"The Pentagon has not released any video or any photos from security cameras from the terrorist attack of Sept. 11," said Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin.
A spokeswoman at the Department of Justice, which reviews taped and photographed evidence obtained by federal security cameras, said she could not comment on whether the photos are legitimate, adding that the photos "were not disseminated by the FBI or the Department of Justice." -Washington Post/AP (3/07/02)

► "BROWN: Thank you, Marty. Now to the Pentagon, some remarkable pictures of American Airlines Flight 77, which hit the Pentagon on September 11th. Jamie McIntyre on duty tonight. Jamie, the headline.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Aaron, for six months only a handful of people actually saw what it looked like when that plane hit this building. When I first saw those pictures today, I was surprised by something. You'll see them. They were seen first on CNN today. Aaron." -CNN (03/07/02)

► Images show September 11 Pentagon crash

"The Department of Defense on Thursday released a series of photos taken by a security camera that show the fireball from a hijacked airliner crashing into the Pentagon on September 11." - CNN (03/08/02)

► Pentagon photos released

"A sequence of five government photos shows the moment the hijacked American Airlines plane slammed into the Pentagon last Sept. 11.
The photos were taken by a surveillance camera positioned north of the section of the Pentagon destroyed by the impact and the resulting explosion and fire.
The images cover a span of four one-hundredths of a second. The first photo shows a small, blurry white object near the upper right corner - possibly the plane just a few feet above the ground. The second shows a white glow immediately after the impact. In the three remaining photos, a mountain of orange fire and black smoke rises above the building.
The photographs were not officially released by the Pentagon, but officials said the images were authentic and had been provided to law enforcement officials investigating the attack. The photographs were obtained Thursday by The Associated Press and other news organizations.
Officials could not immediately explain why the date typed near the bottom of each photograph is Sept. 12 and the time is written as 5:37 p.m. The attack happened at about 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11. Officials said it was possible that the date and time were added the day after the attack when they may have been catalogued for investigative purposes." - Daily Herald (03/08/02)

Why did the Pentagon first deny their security cameras caught the crash?

"The Pentagon has told broadcast news reporters that its security cameras did not capture the crash.
The attack occurred close to the Pentagon's heliport, an area that normally would be under 24-hour security surveillance, including video monitoring." -Inside the Ring/Gertz File (09/21/01)

If these security photos are genuine, then why didn't this huge fiery explosion scorch the lawn? Were these series of explosions doctored into the security photos?

(Photos source: startribune.com)

"MCINTYRE (voice over): The sequence of five photographs obtained by CNN was taken by an automatic security camera at a Pentagon checkpoint and shows what, up to now, was seen by only a few eyewitnesses, that the American Airlines 757 came in extremely low before hitting the ground floor of the Pentagon." -CNN (03/07/02)

(Photo source: criticalthrash.com)

(Photo source: nfpa.org)

(Photo source: defenselink.mil [HiRes])

(For more lawn shots see The Penta-Lawn 2000!)

Doesn't the progression of the fireball look unnatural?

(Yellow line used as a reference point.)

Is the object hidden behind the beige toll booth Flight 77, or is it too small to be the size of a Boeing 757 which a couple of Flight 77 investigation sites have concluded?

(Photo source: boston.com)

(Source: Silent But Deadly. Download.)

"MCINTYRE: At first glance, it's hard to see the jetliner in the first frame, but it's there just a few feet off the ground." -CNN (03/07/02)

"A bright orange fireball is visible in the photographs but the hijacked American Airlines plane is not clearly visible. The first photo shows a small, blurry, white object near the upper right corner – possibly the plane just a few feet above the ground." -Washington Post (3/07/02)

(9/11 Research)

(Guardian)

Why is the date and time wrong on these photos?

"A series of five photos obtained Thursday by news organizations shows the first available images of the Pentagon as a plane hijacked by terrorists slammed into the building the morning of Sept. 11.
The photos, which depict a fiery explosion on the building's northwest face, are each dated Sept. 12. Officials say the date may reflect when the images were catalogued by investigators since they are not the actual date of the attack.
CNN first obtained the images and broadcast them Thursday afternoon. Reporter Jamie McIntyre said the photos were captured by a camera at security checkpoint on the grounds surrounding the Pentagon.
The photos, taken by the camera positioned north of the section of the Pentagon, cover a span of four one-hundredths of a second.
McIntyre said during a CNN broadcast that the network has filed Freedom of Information Act requests for photos and a video of the attack taken from another security checkpoint. The photos, he said, became available from another source before government officials responded to the request.
According to the Associated Press, the images were made available to law enforcement to aid in the investigation. The attack happened at about 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, but officials said the dates and times shown on the photos were added the day after the attack, when they may have been catalogued for investigative purposes." -Washington Post (3/07/02)

► Pentagon photos released

"The photographs were not officially released by the Pentagon, but officials said the images were authentic and had been provided to law enforcement officials investigating the attack. The photographs were obtained Thursday by The Associated Press and other news organizations.
Officials could not immediately explain why the date typed near the bottom of each photograph is Sept. 12 and the time is written as 5:37 p.m. The attack happened at about 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11. Officials said it was possible that the date and time were added the day after the attack when they may have been catalogued for investigative purposes." - Daily Herald (03/08/02)

(Dates on photos say 9/12/01 instead of 9/11/01. Times say 5:37 p.m. instead of 9:37 a.m.)

Why is the "impact" photo so much brighter than the others and why is the timestamp on "impact" the same as on "plane"?

Notice how bright the "impact" photo is compared to the others. Also, notice that the camera lens is more visible in the corners compared with the other security photos. Both "plane" and "impact" photo have the time of 17:37:19. (Photo source: boston.com)

Where is security photo 17:37:20?

(Photo source: boston.com)

See also: Web Fairy's Pentagon security clips gallery

Why did the FBI confiscate the Nexcom gas station's security video within minutes of the crash and why haven't they released this video to once and for all prove what crashed into the Pentagon?

(Photo source: defenselink.mil)

"His gas station, open only to Department of Defense personnel, is the last structure between the Pentagon and the hillside that, hours later, would become a wailing knoll. "By the time I got outside all I could see was a giant cloud of smoke, first white then black, coming from the Pentagon," he said. "It was just a terrible, terrible thing to be so close to."
"Velasquez says the gas station's security cameras are close enough to the Pentagon to have recorded the moment of impact. "I've never seen what the pictures looked like," he said. "The FBI was here within minutes and took the film." -National Geographic (12/11/01)

(Photo source: danbielefeld.com)

► "Federal officials set up a command center in a Citgo gas station with a frontal view of the damage." -Boston Globe (09/12/01)

► "Fortuitously, the Defense Department had allowed the media to begin their stakeout at a Naval Base Exchange Citgo gas station at the outer perimeter of the crash site." -Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

► "International news press flocked to the Pentagon, taking over a gasoline station with a clear view of the attack site." -Arlington County After-Action Report

Judicial Watch Files Lawsuit Against Defense Department for Withholding Video of 9/11 Attack on Pentagon - (03/01/06)

Why did the FBI confiscate the security video at a nearby hotel and why have they never released it yet to the public?

Note: The hotel mentioned in the above article was first believed to be the Sheraton, but now is believed to be the Doubletree Hotel.

► Video of attack
"The electronic news media have broadcast repeatedly the attack on the World Trade Center. They are perhaps the most dramatic news images since the explosion of the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima.
Now word has reached us that federal investigators may have video footage of the deadly terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
A security camera atop a hotel close to the Pentagon may have captured dramatic footage of the hijacked Boeing 757 airliner as it slammed into the western wall of the Pentagon. Hotel employees sat watching the film in shock and horror several times before the FBI confiscated the video as part of its investigation.
It may be the only available video of the attack. The Pentagon has told broadcast news reporters that its security cameras did not capture the crash.
The attack occurred close to the Pentagon's heliport, an area that normally would be under 24-hour security surveillance, including video monitoring." -Inside the Ring/Gertz File (09/21/01)

► "MCINTYRE (on camera): These pictures are the first to be made public, but they are not the only images of the plane hitting the Pentagon. Sources tell CNN that the FBI on September 11th confiscated a nearby hotel's security camera videotape, which also captured the attack. So far, the Justice Department has refused to release that videotape. Aaron.
BROWN: Why? Do we have any idea why they won't release it?
MCINTYRE: Well, the claim - we have filed a freedom of information request for it. They claim that it might provide some intelligence to somebody else who might want to do harm to the United States. But officials I talked to here at the Pentagon say they don't see any national security or criminal value to that tape. The FBI tends to hold on to things. But the government may eventually release that tape, and if they do, we'll bring it to you.
BROWN: Jamie, thanks. I must have missed something in how, where the intelligence possibilities are there, but that happens with me sometimes." -CNN (03/07/02)

Sheraton:

Just off of 395 overlooking Pentagon and Washington, DC monuments. - Sheraton

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS: The Pentagon - 3.0 mi/4.8 km
CORPORATE OFFICES: Raytheon Corporation - 3.0 mi/4.8 km; Northrop Grumman Corporation - 3.0 mi/4.8 km; Boeing Aerospace - 3.0 mi/4.8 km

...our rooftop Galaxy Ballroom provides spectacular, panoramic views of Washington, D.C... - Sheraton

Sheraton - 900 S Orme St, Arlington, VA 22204

Doubletree:

Doubletree Hotel Crystal City-National Airport
300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia, United States 22202

View from Doubletree restaurant showing the Pentagon (red arrow). Source.

(Red line shows alleged flight path of Flight 77. Aerial photo courtesy of PentagonResearch.com. Click photo for hi-res.)

► "In the final few seconds before the terrorist-commandeered plane exploded into the Pentagon, the plane roared down on Columbia Pike, almost skimming the roof of the STC after barely missing the Sheraton Hotel. The noise, VDOT team members said, was unbelievably loud, and most felt the hijacker was nosing down the plane at full throttle. "It was so close the building was shaking," recalls Jimmy Chu, STC manager.
Some VDOTers were sure the plane had shifted its direction slightly to avoid a 100-foot-tall cellular tower adjacent to the STC building. As the plane went over the STC, the hijacker banked the plane, lifting the right wing up, in order to swoop down the hill into the target.
Just before impact, the plane clipped off two VDOT light poles on Washington Boulevard, a football field or two away from the Pentagon. In the same area, the blast from the plane's impact damaged the lenses of one of VDOT's traffic monitoring cameras and knocked the camera sideways." -Roads to the Future (09/21/01)

► "The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) CCTV system used to manage the Northern Virginia freeway network had cameras in place that observed the September 11 crash site at the Pentagon. This CCTV system and the VDOT Smart Traffic Center were used as a command center for emergency responders and cleanup and recovery crews following the incident." -ARINC

View VDOT light pole traffic cams at: TrafficLand Find A Camera

(See cameras: ON WASHINGTON BLVD @ I-395 & ON WASHINGTON BLVD @ Pentagon/I-395)

Has anyone ever seen this video taken by the DoD of the interior of the Pentagon?

"The media also wanted access beyond the Citgo site. The FBI adamantly opposed access inside the inner perimeter, and all I could arrange was a photography pool to the edge of the inner perimeter for an hour on the second day...The media still wanted to get inside the inner perimeter, but, as the search went from rescue to recovery, the opportunities for media access became slimmer and slimmer. However, when the Department of Defense took video of the interior of the Pentagon at the crash site, we procured copies for the media after it was distributed at the Pentagon." -Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

How come we haven't seen the video footage taken from this security camera nearest the point of impact?

(Click photo for hi-res. Credit to Russell Pickering.)

Photo by Russell Pickering taken in 08/06 at the Pentagon showing the destroyed security camera has been replaced in the same exact spot.

(Click photo for hi-res.)

"...the closed circuit television security camera nearest to the point of impact had been destroyed by the crash." -Arlington County After-Action Report