There wouldn't be a plume though. A nuclear plant can't act like a nuclear bomb; I forget why. But the worst case is the meltdown, where the rods that control chain reactions can't be inserted back into the core. In such a case the generated heat gets so hot that it melts everything until it sinks right into the ground.
That's what someone told me, anyway. So the major radioactivity leak happens after it's melted out of its containment. That's the time period you've got to get away.
Saw a bit of one of the night's TV news magazines where they demonstrated what would probably happen if a jet collided with the containment hull. The jet would turn into dust, basically, and wouldn't penetrate the hull.
Nevertheless there was a suggestion that anti-aircraft guns be located near the plants as a last resort. And another suggestion that it's Tom Ridge's call.
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