Because the firebenders would be more accuratly said to be energy benders (Iroh says so). That should answer why airbenders can't make lighting. Doesn't fit the air bending scope. This thought might help you come up with how airbending can be deadly. Any studier of science knows that air and liquids follow all the same rules exept that air can be compressed and liquids can not. If you anylize how a water bender can kill, you can find how an airbender can kill also. Remember, they all move like a fluid.

One thing they could do is create a vortex spinning fast enough to literally shred the skin off their opponents.

oh my. i do believe i like the way you think zekvax. maybe its been mentioned before, but its certainly possible to push something deadly with air, so that could work (although that defeats the question here a bit doesnt it?). and lets not forget about the damage tornados and hurricanes can deal (also may have been mentioned). enough damage to destroy a city. definitely enough to destroy a person.

Bah. What is the point of thinking of new ways to kill someone with air? Suffacate them, blow their lungs up or rip their skin off. Wouldn't it just be easier to blow them off a cliff or stab them with debris?

I think that the movie Dogma put it best to be honest when one of the fallen angels said, "Well, after a point, we just started picking them up... And dropped them."

'Nuff said.

Well, if an air bender used throwing knives, couldn't they redirect the knives by bending the air around them.

But i have always wondered, can air benders bend other gasses, not just oxygen, could the bend hydrogen, and maybe force it into an enemy’s lungs?

I don't think that would work against earth benders halaku after all they can soften the earth when they land on the ground but it might be usefull against the other two benders

I like Lye's idea. Maybe Air benders would be more accurately called gas benders. Could cause nitrogen poisoning or just case them to die from sucking the air out of their lungs. Personally I would to the opposite and cause their lungs to explode!!

I dont know about lungs exploading, but they sould use the air, allready in somones lungs to rip them out of said person's chest.

though this is extreme, an airbender could create winds spinning at such speeds around a target that the current litterally rips the skin from them. Or they could use the air in such force as to crush there foes into a wall or the ground.

O.k. I'm not sure if anyone has said this yet because I only read the first 2 pgs. but he could have killed them with another element I think he knew all the elements when that happened. So he could have used a finishing move from earth, fire, or water.

Oh, and by the way you people are comming up with some sick stuff... T_T keep up the good work.

I think that the airbenders could take air and clog up the persons nose and mouth with stationary air so that they can't breathe and suffocate. And a firebenders power comes from their breath.

Before asking how they can kill someone, ask yourself, what does it take to kill someone? A pinched vein, a lack of air? A poke in the right place? So much energy is wasted in the show and on RPGing that could kill anyone(Bender or no) in an instant, with the energy it takes to lift a pen. Of course, that makes for boring RP, so I wouldnt suggest using these methods. For a fast kill, all an earthbender need do is shoot a pebble at someone's temple, fast. A waterbender can shoot water up someone's nose/mouth or use an ice spike to drive into the jugular. Airbenders suffocate, or can simply use the air in someone's lungs to rip their lungs apart. Firebenders... they're screwed. They can only create fire on their bodies, from which they can fire it, or else they can just ignite the oxygen in someone's bloodstream. But the other three benders can slay armies if they get good enough at what they need to do. Why use fancy tricks when a little dart, or a simple current, maybe a thrown pebble, will do better?