No disrespect intended, but what if...

Wouldn't it have been obvious from the start that they were on a suicide mission? If this is an accurate account, presumably corroborated by the passengers accounts of what they had told they're loved ones over the phone. If they (passengers) had attacked sooner, they could have retaken control of the plane, in time to have attempted a landing. Since there was a former pilot of sorts aboard the plane. Has anyone else thought this?