[esn]

It is an idea.

But I would question if Ben has that much influence to pull off such a trick of not only having a plane crash, but also make sure that the one guy he needs to save him, Jack surivive, along with Claire on board. I do think he showed genuine surprise of the plane crashing in the flashbacks, and I recall him saying to Jack about a spinal surgeron falling out of the sky three days after he found out that he had cancer (heck of a short period of time to organise a plane crash) has proof of God that he regarded it has somthing unexpected, but none the less, an opputunity. Although you can never be sure with Ben.

That said, I do belive that somone is behind them all being on the island, and I do belive that somone intended that plane to crash there, just not Ben