The Flight Instructor Was Struck by a Hijacker’s Odd Meaning of ‘Joy Ride’
Real pilots like to fly planes. What explains a flight school student who doesn't? FBI agents went to search Moussaoui's rooms.
On August 15, 2001, the FBI detained Zacarias Moussaoui after learning that his visa had expired. A flight instructor at the Pan Am International Flight Academy reported that Moussaoui displayed unusual interest in the flight simulator and aircraft doors. The instructor noted Moussaoui mentioned he was attending flight school for a "joy ride," which the instructor knew meant an actual flight, not an automatic one.
During an interview with Moussaoui's roommate, the FBI found a laptop, aviation study materials, several Arabic sheets of paper, and documents suggesting Moussaoui was linked to a Pakistani and Malaysian company. The roommate mentioned Moussaoui bought protective gear for "self-defense against crime in the United States" and advocated preparing to "fight for true Muslims." The FBI was unsure about the next steps, given Moussaoui's unwillingness to cooperate.
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