Nyctohylophobia

MYTH The anomalously low passenger loads of the four flights betray foreknowledge of 9-11

Jim Hoffman claims that the passenger loads (“load factors”) for the four hijacked flights were as follows:{1}
American Airlines Flight 11 N334AA: 51.3%
United Airlines Flight 175 N612UA: 31.3%
American Airlines Flight 77 N644AA: 29.3%
United Airlines Flight 93 N591UA: 16.5%

Hoffman claims these figures are anomalous. However, except for the AA11 figure, all of his figures are off. Hoffman claims these figures are unusually low but that is not true for all of them. Here are the true load factors on 9/11 and how they compare with other Tuesdays in the three months leading up to 9/11:{2}
American Airlines Flight 11 N334AA: 51.3% = 12.3% above average
United Airlines Flight 175 N612UA: 33% = 16% below average but within normal range
American Airlines Flight 77 N644AA: 33% = 0.2% above average
United Airlines Flight 93 N591UA: 20% = 32% below average and outside of normal range

Flight 93 might have had an exceptionally low load due to 9/11’s proximity to Labor Day. More importantly, there is no pattern in the passenger loads of the four flights (they are all different from each other) so there are no grounds for suspicion.

{1} 911research.wtc7.net/planes/attack
{2} 9/11 Commission Report, “Notes to Chapter One,” n. 21, p. 452.

Labels: Flights, Jim Hoffman, Passengers