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Print This StoryReport: Moussaoui E-Mailed 'U' On Crop Dusting
Suspected 20th Hijacker Contacted Crookston Campus About Flying Crop Dusters
POSTED: 7:32 am CDT August 9,
2002
UPDATED: 10:09 am CDT August 9,
2002
In the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the feds grounded crop-dusting planes around the country because, it was later learned, agents had found materials about how to use the planes after searching the home and computer of Zacarias Moussaoui, now facing charges as the "20th hijacker."
Moussaoui was jailed here in the Twin Cities on immigration charges when the plans struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon after he had raised suspicion at an Eagan jumbo-jet flight simulator where he was seeking flying lessons.Agents quickly zeroed in on Moussaoui, and his interest in crop-dusting planes -- which could spread chemical and biological weapons -- raised fears that using the planes in another terrorist attack was possible.Now, as Moussaoui is defending himself in court proceedings in Virginia, the Saint Paul Pioneer Press reports that two weeks before his arrest he had e-mailed a state university seeking information on starting a crop dusting business.The newspaper reports that on July 31, 2001 -- two weeks before his arrest and six weeks before the attacks -- Moussaoui e-mailed the University of Minnesota's Crookston campus asking about a short course on learning how to fly crop-dusting planes.He also sought advice on what types of aircraft and materials were needed to start a crop-dusting business, the newspaper said. He told the university that he was in the United States working toward a commercial pilot's license and hoped someday to start a crop-dusting business in France or Morocco.The Crookston campus offers a four-year degree in agricultural aviation, with information about the program easily obtained online. The university has joined forces with the University of North Dakota's renown flying program to offer the degree.Moussaoui made a fleeting reference to the e-mail in a court filing late last month in Virginia, where the 34-year-old French citizen is representing himself against charges he conspired with Osama bin Laden and others to plot the Sept. 11 attacks.The newspaper said Moussaoui used the same e-mail address and screen name when he contacted a flight school in Oklahoma in the fall of 2000, where he eventually logged 60 hours of flight time with an instructor.
Moussaoui was jailed here in the Twin Cities on immigration charges when the plans struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon after he had raised suspicion at an Eagan jumbo-jet flight simulator where he was seeking flying lessons.Agents quickly zeroed in on Moussaoui, and his interest in crop-dusting planes -- which could spread chemical and biological weapons -- raised fears that using the planes in another terrorist attack was possible.Now, as Moussaoui is defending himself in court proceedings in Virginia, the Saint Paul Pioneer Press reports that two weeks before his arrest he had e-mailed a state university seeking information on starting a crop dusting business.The newspaper reports that on July 31, 2001 -- two weeks before his arrest and six weeks before the attacks -- Moussaoui e-mailed the University of Minnesota's Crookston campus asking about a short course on learning how to fly crop-dusting planes.He also sought advice on what types of aircraft and materials were needed to start a crop-dusting business, the newspaper said. He told the university that he was in the United States working toward a commercial pilot's license and hoped someday to start a crop-dusting business in France or Morocco.The Crookston campus offers a four-year degree in agricultural aviation, with information about the program easily obtained online. The university has joined forces with the University of North Dakota's renown flying program to offer the degree.Moussaoui made a fleeting reference to the e-mail in a court filing late last month in Virginia, where the 34-year-old French citizen is representing himself against charges he conspired with Osama bin Laden and others to plot the Sept. 11 attacks.The newspaper said Moussaoui used the same e-mail address and screen name when he contacted a flight school in Oklahoma in the fall of 2000, where he eventually logged 60 hours of flight time with an instructor. Copyright 2004 by Channel 4000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
