Was it illegal to remove aviation debris from the World Trade Center on 911?

Question

Here is why it is illegal: see this statute and scroll all the way down to Subsection (B):
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode49/usc_sec_49_00001155----000-.html

The Feds cannot remove it unless they comply with the NTSB regulations and Federal Statutes on Transportation; also , a Crime Scene has to be preserved.

The removal of the debris also contituted an Obstruction of Justice and a violation of Title 49 as ooutlined above. See this Obstruction statute:

http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001505----000-.html

You have to wait for the Coroner to get there as well as criminal investigators. The Coroner will take the human remains to the morgue for autopsy. The FBI would be a lead investigative agency along with the NTSB, However, in this case , it is noteworthy that no investigation was done by the NTSB.

Answer 1

Bush does what he wants to do. So would Clinton. Reagan ect

Answer 2

As long as the debris is properly checked and important pieces of evidence are kept, no. Basically, as long as no evidence is intentionally destroyed, there is no crime. It would be very hard, if not impossible, to prove that anyone intentionally destroyed aviation debris from the World Trade Center site.

You also have to remember that the first priority is to rescue possible survivors, which may cause the destruction of evidence. The next step is to collect and record evidence.

ADDITION:

The key words are "without authority". As long as you have the authority, likely from the NTSB or the FAA to remove such debris, it is not a crime. I would have to assume that the FDNY and other government agencies were given such authority to conduct the search for survivors at the World Trade Center site following the collapse.

The second key part is "knowingly". If you are removing a bunch of rubble that happens to have a hidden aircraft part in it, you are not knowingly removing that part as you believe that you are removing rubble. This shows that you must have intent to remove that part and knowledge that you are removing aircraft debris. In a court of law, such intent would be difficult to prove given the circumstances.

Answer 3

There was only one part that was of any use, and that was the black box.

There is a misconception in the minds of the public that any plane that crashes must be meticulously and methodically recovered and reconstructed. That is false. The truth is that they have do do this when the cause of the crash is unknown. This was NOT the case on 9/11. Everyone on earth knows how the planes crashed. That is why the individual pieces of debris and their location is inconsequential.

Answer 4

It considered theft, withholding evidence, & obstruction of a fedral investigation. So yes, it's illegal.

Answer 5

No, you couldn't walk up and take a piece of the debris but the Feds can.

Answer 6

Have a look at this you will be amazed and terrified. Loose change on steroids.

Answer 7

Evidence of a crime must not be removed.

Answer 8

I guess when it comes to a giant pile of rubble, you do what has to be done

Answer 9

You can't preserve a crime scene when there are possible survivors buried beneath it.

Moron!!!