They obviously weren't expecting the crash at that moment, but I do think that this is how new recruits are brought in. The question I have is are those new recruits destined to come to the Island through fate, or did the unseen forces at work amongst Hanso Foundation make it happen? This would also mean arranging things so that Desmond could not enter the numbers and thereby set off the electromagnetic force to pull them down in the first place.

I believe that these people are the Dharma scientists, or their children, and that they each have different tasks (Ethan - medical, Juliet - zoological/animal behavior, etc.)

Can't wait for episode 2!!!