Downing planes is problematic because of the unpredictability of the falling debris. If you save the small town from chemicals that might cause 25 people to get cancer, but the plane comes crashing down into an apartment building killing 59. With shooting down planes it is easy to mess up a lot of people's day who didn't really deserve it.
Instead, one could prevent the planes from taking off in the first place. It requires foreknowledge. It might require hacking a CIA goose and flying it into the engines. Maybe poke holes in the airport fuel lines to prevent fueling or demagnetize the compass in the air traffic control tower.
Downing planes is problematic because of the unpredictability of the falling debris. If you save the small town from chemicals that might cause 25 people to get cancer, but the plane comes crashing down into an apartment building killing 59. With shooting down planes it is easy to mess up a lot of people's day who didn't really deserve it.
Instead, one could prevent the planes from taking off in the first place. It requires foreknowledge. It might require hacking a CIA goose and flying it into the engines. Maybe poke holes in the airport fuel lines to prevent fueling or demagnetize the compass in the air traffic control tower.
Lay on the runway like Tiananmen².