A vapour trail resembling a missile launch that crossed the skies off the Southern California coast has left US defence chiefs baffled.

Canadian fighter jets escorted a Cathay Pacific plane from Hong Kong to a safe landing in Vancouver International Airport following a bomb threat.

American and Canadian fighter planes were launched to intercept a pair of Russian bombers after the bombers came close to Alaska while conducting an exercise, military officials said yesterday.

Plagued by miscommunication and confusion, the Pentagon’s air-defence command missed an opportunity to possibly intercept at least one of the hijacked planes on September 11, the federal panel reviewing the attacks said today.

COULD military jet fighters, the final line of defence, have stopped or lessened the destruction on September 11, 2001, by shooting down airliners aimed at some of the nation's best-known buildings?

Canadian fighters shadowed a New York-bound Air India jetliner over the Atlantic Ocean today after authorities found a suspicious passenger was aboard, US government officials said.

Fighter jets were eight minutes away from one of the hijacked airliners when it crashed into the World Trade Centre, it was revealed today.

Aircraft carriers and guided missile destroyers moved into the waters near New York and Washington after President George Bush placed the US military on its highest alert status.