Listening to Channel 9 on September 11, 2001
Dec 3, 2005, 1:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: UAL, AA, Delta, NWA, AW
Posts: 8
Listening to Channel 9 on September 11, 2001
On 9/11, I was listening to Ch. 9. I was on a flight out of ORD to AZ (757) seated in 5F. We had just taken off and where climbing to cruise. A flight out of Rockford, IL was squeezing between us and the UA in front of us. I watched as he lined up to get on the highway westbound. Then, abruptly, the Rockford flight called ATC and requested immediate clearance to return to home. ATC responded with some quick direction and asked if they were experiencing trouble. No, just directed to return home by company pronto. Hmmm, strange I thought.
Then the UA in front of us requested emergency clearance back to ORD. Loooong pause from ATC. Now, this is Chicago Center air space. There are no pauses. Certainly not 30-40 seconds of dead air. Hmm, man that is weird, I thought. Then like a starters pistol went off, the comm light up. Another plane req. clearance, then another, another.... boom, boom, boom. Nothing from ATC. I nudged the guy next to me and said put on Ch. 9. He could see by the expression on my face, I was serious.
ATC got on the air and started by saying this was going to go quick and pilots needed to listen up. "Protocol responses are not required, just do exactly as I say quickly". Then it began. "UA ###, turn right heading blah, blah expect Springfield airport. SWA ###, turn left heading blah, blah expect Rockford. Delta ###...." This went on for about 3 solid minutes before I rang the bell for the FA who was passing out breakfast. Our number had not yet been called. The FA came by and I said "We are all going back to O'Hare, they are landing every plane in the sky. What is going on?!?" She looked at me in disbelief and kind of leaned down to look out the window. I could see that she was about to start to tell me not to worry about it when we pitched right at about 45*s. It was so quick it nearly dumped the FA in my lap.
Her expression changed quickly. I could see she knew that was no turn you make in a 757 under normal conditions. She said, I will be right back and picked up the comm. She went flush. Not saying a word, not "ok", not "goodbye", not "I understand"... nothing, she hung up the phone. I don't know why I remember that she did not respond so vividly in my mind but it took the whole thing up a notch for me. I knew she thought this was very serious and was scared. She walked right back to me, scooped up my tray and said in a voice full of authority, "Pull up your chair, put away your tray table and buckle up, now. We are landing in a few minutes. The pilot will be on with more instructions in a few minutes." I was frozen. In the ten steps it took her to get from the phone to me, her whole demeanor changed from shocked to pissed.
By this time, ATC comm on ch. 9 had been cut off. We were pitching left and right, then right and left and descending fast. It was about 5 minutes before the pilot came on and said "Ladies and gentlemen, please listen very carefully, We have been instructed by the FAA to land immediately. There has been a security breach in the system and we will be on the ground in Chicago in a few minutes. Listen carefully to the FAs instructions and do as they as say please." click. Huh!?! Instructed by the FAA? Not ATC... FAA!! Whaaa?!? Security breach in "the system"? What does that mean? Did some guy run through the check point at the airport? Now, I was scared.
A couple more minutes of quick turns and fast drops go by. The pilot (a woman, I don't know why I mention that but I remember it clearly) comes back on the comm. "This is the captain. We will be landing quickly in Des Moines, IA. Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin." click. Hard turn right, hard turn left... the FAs are barking out instructions on the comm. Now I can see planes everywhere around us. There had to be a dozen so close I could tell the company clearly. I could discern the 7-5s from the 7-3s, the AB320s from the 319s.
We were at about 8 thousand by now. It was less than 3 minutes since we last heard from the pilot and she was on again. "This is the captain. We will be landing at the Quad Cities airport in 4 minutes. When we land we have been instructed not to approach the terminal. Please remain calm and we will back with instructions as soon as possible." click. Now I could hear a woman crying a few rows behind me.
Our last turn to hit the glide path was so sharp I could see the corn rows in the fields below. There was a SWA 7-3 easily within a mile and a half behind us as we fish tailed, it seemed, into runway alignment. Gears go down way late. We are going much faster than a normal approach. 2k now.... 1500, 1... touchdown... hard. Heavy brakes for a good bit then they release and we roll all the way down to the end and turn right toward the terminal. I look back down the runway and the SWA 7-3 is about 500yrds off the end of the runway. This would have been a "go around" under normal circumstances. Behind Southwest, they are stacked up on a string. 8-10 planes maybe... boom, boom, boom. Big ones too.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" I hear a voice behind me. I turn, it's a man on his cell. 'Two planes hit the WTC. They are on fire...both buildings." We are in the terminal in a flash it seemed. I made a few calls and went to the rental counter and secured a car (a fire engine red, Dodge minivan) before I sat in this tiny airport and watch TV for about 4 hours. By the time I decided to go back to Chicago, the rental counters were chaos. I slowly made my way through the crowd announcing rides were available back to ORD for any takers, follow me out. Outside I turned around to see I had five takers, 2 men, 3 women. One was a UA FA. We barely spoke a word the whole way back. I don't even remember any of their names. ORD was closed and I dropped ‘em off one by one at various places around the city. Then home for me. I'll never forget where I was or that Ch. 9 was a part of it. I still have the stub from the flight. UA 1969, ORD to Phoenix, seat 5F.
Then the UA in front of us requested emergency clearance back to ORD. Loooong pause from ATC. Now, this is Chicago Center air space. There are no pauses. Certainly not 30-40 seconds of dead air. Hmm, man that is weird, I thought. Then like a starters pistol went off, the comm light up. Another plane req. clearance, then another, another.... boom, boom, boom. Nothing from ATC. I nudged the guy next to me and said put on Ch. 9. He could see by the expression on my face, I was serious.
ATC got on the air and started by saying this was going to go quick and pilots needed to listen up. "Protocol responses are not required, just do exactly as I say quickly". Then it began. "UA ###, turn right heading blah, blah expect Springfield airport. SWA ###, turn left heading blah, blah expect Rockford. Delta ###...." This went on for about 3 solid minutes before I rang the bell for the FA who was passing out breakfast. Our number had not yet been called. The FA came by and I said "We are all going back to O'Hare, they are landing every plane in the sky. What is going on?!?" She looked at me in disbelief and kind of leaned down to look out the window. I could see that she was about to start to tell me not to worry about it when we pitched right at about 45*s. It was so quick it nearly dumped the FA in my lap.
Her expression changed quickly. I could see she knew that was no turn you make in a 757 under normal conditions. She said, I will be right back and picked up the comm. She went flush. Not saying a word, not "ok", not "goodbye", not "I understand"... nothing, she hung up the phone. I don't know why I remember that she did not respond so vividly in my mind but it took the whole thing up a notch for me. I knew she thought this was very serious and was scared. She walked right back to me, scooped up my tray and said in a voice full of authority, "Pull up your chair, put away your tray table and buckle up, now. We are landing in a few minutes. The pilot will be on with more instructions in a few minutes." I was frozen. In the ten steps it took her to get from the phone to me, her whole demeanor changed from shocked to pissed.
By this time, ATC comm on ch. 9 had been cut off. We were pitching left and right, then right and left and descending fast. It was about 5 minutes before the pilot came on and said "Ladies and gentlemen, please listen very carefully, We have been instructed by the FAA to land immediately. There has been a security breach in the system and we will be on the ground in Chicago in a few minutes. Listen carefully to the FAs instructions and do as they as say please." click. Huh!?! Instructed by the FAA? Not ATC... FAA!! Whaaa?!? Security breach in "the system"? What does that mean? Did some guy run through the check point at the airport? Now, I was scared.
A couple more minutes of quick turns and fast drops go by. The pilot (a woman, I don't know why I mention that but I remember it clearly) comes back on the comm. "This is the captain. We will be landing quickly in Des Moines, IA. Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin." click. Hard turn right, hard turn left... the FAs are barking out instructions on the comm. Now I can see planes everywhere around us. There had to be a dozen so close I could tell the company clearly. I could discern the 7-5s from the 7-3s, the AB320s from the 319s.
We were at about 8 thousand by now. It was less than 3 minutes since we last heard from the pilot and she was on again. "This is the captain. We will be landing at the Quad Cities airport in 4 minutes. When we land we have been instructed not to approach the terminal. Please remain calm and we will back with instructions as soon as possible." click. Now I could hear a woman crying a few rows behind me.
Our last turn to hit the glide path was so sharp I could see the corn rows in the fields below. There was a SWA 7-3 easily within a mile and a half behind us as we fish tailed, it seemed, into runway alignment. Gears go down way late. We are going much faster than a normal approach. 2k now.... 1500, 1... touchdown... hard. Heavy brakes for a good bit then they release and we roll all the way down to the end and turn right toward the terminal. I look back down the runway and the SWA 7-3 is about 500yrds off the end of the runway. This would have been a "go around" under normal circumstances. Behind Southwest, they are stacked up on a string. 8-10 planes maybe... boom, boom, boom. Big ones too.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" I hear a voice behind me. I turn, it's a man on his cell. 'Two planes hit the WTC. They are on fire...both buildings." We are in the terminal in a flash it seemed. I made a few calls and went to the rental counter and secured a car (a fire engine red, Dodge minivan) before I sat in this tiny airport and watch TV for about 4 hours. By the time I decided to go back to Chicago, the rental counters were chaos. I slowly made my way through the crowd announcing rides were available back to ORD for any takers, follow me out. Outside I turned around to see I had five takers, 2 men, 3 women. One was a UA FA. We barely spoke a word the whole way back. I don't even remember any of their names. ORD was closed and I dropped ‘em off one by one at various places around the city. Then home for me. I'll never forget where I was or that Ch. 9 was a part of it. I still have the stub from the flight. UA 1969, ORD to Phoenix, seat 5F.
Dec 3, 2005, 1:35 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,069
Putt4eagle
Welcome.
Thank you. This is one of the most interesting posts (especially for a new Flyertalker) I've ever read here. It brings us all back to that day September 11. Your words have all of us on that flight with you.
Thanks.
Dan
Welcome.
Thank you. This is one of the most interesting posts (especially for a new Flyertalker) I've ever read here. It brings us all back to that day September 11. Your words have all of us on that flight with you.
Thanks.
Dan
Dec 3, 2005, 1:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Welcome to flyertalk Putt4eagle, and thank you very much for sharing that with us.
That was one of the most vivid descriptions I've ever heard from someone who was on a plane that day.
Somehow it's the small seconds of realization that resonate with me, perhaps because they truly capture the fear and horror of what went on that day. I'll never forget leaving my office building in Chicago that morning. For the first time in my life, I saw foot traffic stream west across Chicago's Loop, on its way to the commuter rail stations, at 10:30 in the morning, rather than the evening rush. There were rumors running rampant that the Merchandise Mart and the Sears Tower were both targets, and everyone who was near either building suddenly became very thoughtful of just how all encompassing that day could be.
That was one of the most vivid descriptions I've ever heard from someone who was on a plane that day.
Somehow it's the small seconds of realization that resonate with me, perhaps because they truly capture the fear and horror of what went on that day. I'll never forget leaving my office building in Chicago that morning. For the first time in my life, I saw foot traffic stream west across Chicago's Loop, on its way to the commuter rail stations, at 10:30 in the morning, rather than the evening rush. There were rumors running rampant that the Merchandise Mart and the Sears Tower were both targets, and everyone who was near either building suddenly became very thoughtful of just how all encompassing that day could be.
Dec 3, 2005, 4:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IAH / FRA
Programs: UA 1P, LH FTL, BA
Posts: 404
I'll chime in, too: Thanks for sharing, Putt4eagle and welcome.
I also like listening. One of the best one's was flying IAH - ORD on the 5:24pm flight, which is followed by a BA flight to London via ORD. Once BA actually overtook us along the way, 2000ft higher and maybe 1mile seperation. It was pretty cool to see the 777 overtake us for about 30mins.
David
I also like listening. One of the best one's was flying IAH - ORD on the 5:24pm flight, which is followed by a BA flight to London via ORD. Once BA actually overtook us along the way, 2000ft higher and maybe 1mile seperation. It was pretty cool to see the 777 overtake us for about 30mins.
David
Dec 3, 2005, 5:32 pm
#7
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Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
Putt4Eagle, your story truly gave me goosebumps. Welcome to Flyertalk, and thanks for sharing! ^ ^ ^
Dec 3, 2005, 6:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: CA
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 243
Originally Posted by Putt4eagle
Then the UA in front of us requested emergency clearance back to ORD. Loooong pause from ATC. Now, this is Chicago Center air space. There are no pauses. Certainly not 30-40 seconds of dead air. Hmm, man that is weird, I thought. Then like a starters pistol went off, the comm light up. Another plane req. clearance, then another, another.... boom, boom, boom. Nothing from ATC. I nudged the guy next to me and said put on Ch. 9. He could see by the expression on my face, I was serious.
Last edited by RedEyeDelight; Dec 3, 2005 at 7:38 pm
Dec 3, 2005, 10:03 pm
#14
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Originally Posted by RedEyeDelight
Hi Putt4eagle. I read your post and got goosebumps too. I actually logged on again today just to read it again. A remarkable piece of good writing. Thanks for sharing. I wonder if anyone other FTers have similar 9/11 Ch.9 stories to share..?
I think that there are hundreds of stories out there, and perhaps it has taken this long for people to be able to simply go back to that dark time and really think about their experience.
I had flown UA to Spokane the evening of 9/10, and I still vividly remember the bored expression on the security guard's face as I went through the metal detector at DIA. The shoes, of course, stayed on that night.
Dec 3, 2005, 10:40 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: UAL, AA, Delta, NWA, AW
Posts: 8
Thank you so much for all the kind replies. I am sure there are many similar stories. Writing is a skill I am not usually proficient at but this was easy. The pictures in my memory are as clear today as they were 4 years ago.
I actually cut out a lot of what I had originally written. (I thought it was a little wordy for a message board.) I had described how perfect a day it was. How I breezed to the airport with almost no traffic, very unusual for Chicago. I walked from my car to my seat with never breaking stride. I know now that by the time I sat down, one plane was already in tower 1. I probably had walked past 50 TVs with the just breaking footage. Totally oblivious to what the day had in store, I remember thinking to myself how perfect the day was going.
The after landing portion of the story is also very vivid in my memory. The UA FA I drove back to Chicago, quietly sobbing almost the whole way home, was comforted by one of the men, an executive looking older guy in a power suit. She was dead heading back home after an international shift. She had no phone and had not been able to contact family and friends. She finally collected herself enough to ask if she could borrow mine. I wondered why she had waited so long to ask.
The other man, a younger khaki and polo shirt district sales manager looking type, asked me if I wanted some cash for the rental car or gas or something. I thought that was a very silly question. No, of course not.
It was a very emotional day for us all. I think about it every time I get on a plane. I think about all the other ‘heroes’ who shut down the entire aviation system in a matter of minutes, ATC, pilots and airline operations people who all performed flawlessly. I think about the incredible accomplishment and it makes me feel safe knowing these folks are at the helm. When the going got tough...
I have often wondered if a book, a collection of “where I was when…” stories from everyday ordinary people outside of NYC, DC or PA would find a readership. Or get published even. I know that I am going to take a few minutes to write mine down for my kids to read later on in life. I have saved everything from that week for them. I guess a written version of my experiences would be good to add to that collection.
I actually cut out a lot of what I had originally written. (I thought it was a little wordy for a message board.) I had described how perfect a day it was. How I breezed to the airport with almost no traffic, very unusual for Chicago. I walked from my car to my seat with never breaking stride. I know now that by the time I sat down, one plane was already in tower 1. I probably had walked past 50 TVs with the just breaking footage. Totally oblivious to what the day had in store, I remember thinking to myself how perfect the day was going.
The after landing portion of the story is also very vivid in my memory. The UA FA I drove back to Chicago, quietly sobbing almost the whole way home, was comforted by one of the men, an executive looking older guy in a power suit. She was dead heading back home after an international shift. She had no phone and had not been able to contact family and friends. She finally collected herself enough to ask if she could borrow mine. I wondered why she had waited so long to ask.
The other man, a younger khaki and polo shirt district sales manager looking type, asked me if I wanted some cash for the rental car or gas or something. I thought that was a very silly question. No, of course not.
It was a very emotional day for us all. I think about it every time I get on a plane. I think about all the other ‘heroes’ who shut down the entire aviation system in a matter of minutes, ATC, pilots and airline operations people who all performed flawlessly. I think about the incredible accomplishment and it makes me feel safe knowing these folks are at the helm. When the going got tough...
I have often wondered if a book, a collection of “where I was when…” stories from everyday ordinary people outside of NYC, DC or PA would find a readership. Or get published even. I know that I am going to take a few minutes to write mine down for my kids to read later on in life. I have saved everything from that week for them. I guess a written version of my experiences would be good to add to that collection.
