Saturday, Sep. 22, 2001 TIME Exclusive: Cropduster Manual Discovered in Suspected Terrorist Hideout Sources tell TIME that U.S. officials suspect that bin Laden conspirators may have been planning to disperse biological or chemical agents from cropdusting planes BY MASSIMO CALABRESI AND SALLY DONNELLY

New York -- U.S. law enforcement officials have found a manual on the operation of cropdusting equipment while searching suspected terrorist hideouts, government sources tell TIME magazine in an issue out on Monday, Sept. 24th.

The discovery has added to concerns among government counterterrorism experts that the bin Laden conspirators may have been planning — or may still be planning —to disperse biological or chemical agents from a cropdusting plane normally used for agricultural purposes.

Among the belongings of suspected terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, sources tell TIME, were manuals showing how to operate cropdusting equipment that could be used to spray fast-killing toxins into the air.

The discovery resulted in the grounding of all cropdusters nationwide on Sunday Sept. 16th. The dusters have been allowed back up, but are not allowed to take off or land from what traffic controllers refer to as Class B airspace, or the skies around major cities.

One senior official cautions that because corroborative evidence is lacking the FBI does not place "high credibility" in the notion that the hijackers were in fact exploring the idea of stealing or renting cropdusters. However, the FBI is advising members of a crop-dusters' group to report any suspicious buys of dangerous chemicals in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks.

Last week, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, a crop dusters trade group, posted a message from the FBI to its membership: "Members should be vigilant to any suspicious activity relative to the use, training in or acquisition of dangerous chemicals or airborne application of same including threats, unusual purchases, suspicious behavior by employees or customers, and unusual contacts with the public. Members should report any suspicious circumstances or information to local FBI offices."

—With reporting by Elaine Shannon/Washington

http://www.time.com/time/nation/printout/0,8816,175951,00.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 22, 2001

Answers

Crop dusters are pretty much small-time operators, each owning only one or two planes. Its not likely any would rent out a plane to a stranger.

-- John Littmann (johntl@mtn.org), September 22, 2001.

Boy, that thougt is enough to send shivers down your spine. How easy to buy, rent, steal, or hijack a small plane like that and take off--with what, as a cargo. Guess we all know, don't we?

-- Uncle Fred (dogboy45@bigfoot.com), September 22, 2001.

What a horrifying thought; that's right, if the terrorists wanted to spread biological or chemical destruction, this would be the easy, cheap way to go.

-- Nancy7 (nancy7@hotmail.com), September 22, 2001.

Even worse, no "unusual" cargo is needed. The usual cargo of these aircraft --- toxix biocide --- is quite suitable for chemical warfare against population centers. All that's needed is redirection from a farm to a city. Let's hope, and demand, that suitable antiaircraft defense is being implemented by local police departments.

These airplanes are small enough and fly low enough that even a high powered rifle has a chance at serving as defense. This is one more reason for the Government NOT to try to consficate citizen's guns.

-- Robert Riggs (rxr.999@worldnet.att.net), September 23, 2001.