The Fight Over Rescue

All the Old Knives

The station’s argument over whether to storm Flight 127 evolves from tactical debate into a crisis of secrecy, trust, and lost time.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Hostage Strategy A Hostage Strategy from "All the Old Knives". A Hostage Strategy Threat The hijackers move children to the front and threaten to kill them if anyone interferes.

A Hostage Strategy from "All the Old Knives". A Hostage Strategy Threat The hijackers move children to the front and threaten to kill them if anyone interferes.

A Hostage Strategy Threat The hijackers move children to the front and threaten to kill them if anyone interferes. Their tactic discourages passengers and officials from taking risks. Dilemma The authorities must balance the lives of hostages against the possibility that delay will let the attackers carry out their threats. No option offers safety.

The Rear Assault The Rear Assault from "All the Old Knives". The Rear Assault Proposal Ahmed recommends an assault through the aircraft’s rear undercarriage.

The Rear Assault from "All the Old Knives". The Rear Assault Proposal Ahmed recommends an assault through the aircraft’s rear undercarriage.

The Rear Assault Proposal Ahmed recommends an assault through the aircraft’s rear undercarriage. Henry supports the idea as a lesser danger than waiting for a massacre. Objection Celia warns that television crews may infer the plan if the media are forced away. A tactical opportunity cannot be separated from the visible public setting.

A Camera Changes the Plan A Camera Changes the Plan from "All the Old Knives". A Camera Changes the Plan New Warning Ahmed’s last message claims that the hijackers have a camera on the undercarriage.

A Camera Changes the Plan from "All the Old Knives". A Camera Changes the Plan New Warning Ahmed’s last message claims that the hijackers have a camera on the undercarriage.

A Camera Changes the Plan New Warning Ahmed’s last message claims that the hijackers have a camera on the undercarriage. The station must decide whether this warning is genuine before committing to an attack. Deadlock Officials do not know how the camera was placed or whether the message still comes from Ahmed. The uncertainty stalls the plan at the point when time matters most.

The Austrian Question The Austrian Question from "All the Old Knives". The Austrian Question Cooperation Celia argues that Austrian authorities need to know about Ahmed and the camera.

The Austrian Question from "All the Old Knives". The Austrian Question Cooperation Celia argues that Austrian authorities need to know about Ahmed and the camera.

The Austrian Question Cooperation Celia argues that Austrian authorities need to know about Ahmed and the camera. The station has withheld the source’s identity because it fears a leak. Tradeoff Sharing information may expose a valuable asset, but withholding it leaves local officials unable to assess the aircraft. The team chooses cooperation only after an argument.

The Rescue Window Closes The Rescue Window Closes from "All the Old Knives". The Rescue Window Closes Stalemate Aslim Taslam refuses to negotiate, and the station cannot establish a safe assault plan.

The Rescue Window Closes from "All the Old Knives". The Rescue Window Closes Stalemate Aslim Taslam refuses to negotiate, and the station cannot establish a safe assault plan.

The Rescue Window Closes Stalemate Aslim Taslam refuses to negotiate, and the station cannot establish a safe assault plan. The hostage crisis becomes a contest of waiting against an enemy that has promised not to yield. Catastrophe The attackers use poison through the ventilation system. The unresolved debate ends not in rescue but in a mass killing.

After the hijacking begins

Five hours into the crisis

Late on the first night

Later that night

The final hours before the mass killing