9/11 Experiences
#31
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: UA Gold; US TIB; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 248
This thread has an incredible story of someone who was not only on an aircraft on that day, but listening to channel 9 at the time of the attacks.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...11-2001-a.html
An amazing post.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...11-2001-a.html
An amazing post.
#32
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,714
I was due to fly MAN-FRA on LH at around 18:30 on 9/11/2001. I assumed the flight would be cancelled, but went to the airport anyway. I was told that the flight was still OK.
Once through security, there used to be a sports bar at MAN T1 that had a big bank of TV's that made one giant TV. This had one of the UK news channels on, and there must have been 200 people standing and watching the replays of the planes hitting the towers.
My flight went without incident, but I noticed that nobody got out of their seats for the whole flight.
Cheers,
Rick
Once through security, there used to be a sports bar at MAN T1 that had a big bank of TV's that made one giant TV. This had one of the UK news channels on, and there must have been 200 people standing and watching the replays of the planes hitting the towers.
My flight went without incident, but I noticed that nobody got out of their seats for the whole flight.
Cheers,
Rick
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
I should have been in San Francisco for a conference that I went to every year around that time. I don't remember why I didn't go that year. Instead, I was walking across the street to do a radio interview about something related to Northwest Airlines. Our media relations person told me that somebody had flown a plane into the WTC and we joked about how it must have been some idiot in a Cessna buzzing the tower. By the time we got to the studio, the topic of the interview had changed...
Mike
Mike
#34
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,178
Who was in the air on 9/11? Share your memories
I'll start:
I was schedule to attend a trade show (Graph Expo) in Chicago with 3 colleagues on 9/11. Our flight from Newark to OHare (CO 1179, scheduled departure of 7:45AM) was delayed by the usual morning taxiway traffic (as was United 93, which never made it to the intended target as a result). I remember being angry that I was wedged into a window seat in coach (I think I was Gold at the time and often got the EUA to ORD, but not this time).
September 11th was a picture-perfect day with bright blue skies, and as we approached the turn to take off, the pilot came on the intercom and said, Its a beautiful day today and those of you sitting on the right side of the aircraft will get a spectacular view of the New York skyline. Never before or since 9/11 have I had a pilot make such an announcement. The passengers, mostly business people, all but ignored his observation, not realizing that, by the time our flight landed in Chicago, we would be told that both towers had fallen and the world would never be the same again. I still get chills telling this story, wondering how the pilot decided to make this unusual observation on the day that the NY skyline would change forever.
When we landed in ORD, we still had no idea what had happened that day. Apparently our plan was close enough to ORD so that we did not have to divert to the closest airport when they grounded all aircraft. I remember noticing clearly that the plane took an unusual taxi from the runway to the gate, hugging the outer edges of the airport. When we got to the gate, the pilot came on the intercom and announced, "I have something to tell you that will upset you and will change your day". Then something about planes hitting the twin towers and the towers falling down. There was no way to comprehend what he was telling us. We deplaned, and ORD was a ghost town. All the TV's had been turned off. Everyone jumped on their cell phones to call their loved ones and to find out what had happened. Stories were passed around, "They crashed into the FBI, the CIA, the Pentagon".
We quickly cancelled our business plans and went to the Hertz rental area to get our "reserved" car and drive home. The line extended all around the complex, as many had not returned their cars as planned. After waiting hopelessly in line, I decided to see if I could work another angle, and somehow got a Hertz employee to help. He said to meet me at parking space 56 (and I'm thinking, why does he have to meet me there?). We get there - the car is a subcompact for the 4 of us, and he tells us that the battery needs to be jumped. We were so happy to have a car, we didn't argue. He jumped the car and off we went, stopping at the O'Hare oasis for Burger King (not because we were hungry, but because we had to eat). I remember us trying to decide whether to leave the engine running when we went inside to eat.
We then began our journey east to NJ, listening non-stop to the radio coverage of the day's events. In South Bend, we decided to see if we could get a larger car (we were way to big for this tiny car). I went into the desolate South Bend airport, where I first saw video of the towers falling. I convinced the Hertz clerk to trade our clown car for a "luxurious" Taurus - and it made a big difference. We spent the night somewhere in Ohio (watching President Bush address the nation in the lobby as we checked in).
We continued on the next day to NY, and to awaiting neighborhoods of concerned, welcoming, relieved families and neighbors. Especially my wife, who initially heard from Peter Jennings at the beginning of the day that a Continental jet on the way to Chicago was one of the planes involved.
I was schedule to attend a trade show (Graph Expo) in Chicago with 3 colleagues on 9/11. Our flight from Newark to OHare (CO 1179, scheduled departure of 7:45AM) was delayed by the usual morning taxiway traffic (as was United 93, which never made it to the intended target as a result). I remember being angry that I was wedged into a window seat in coach (I think I was Gold at the time and often got the EUA to ORD, but not this time).
September 11th was a picture-perfect day with bright blue skies, and as we approached the turn to take off, the pilot came on the intercom and said, Its a beautiful day today and those of you sitting on the right side of the aircraft will get a spectacular view of the New York skyline. Never before or since 9/11 have I had a pilot make such an announcement. The passengers, mostly business people, all but ignored his observation, not realizing that, by the time our flight landed in Chicago, we would be told that both towers had fallen and the world would never be the same again. I still get chills telling this story, wondering how the pilot decided to make this unusual observation on the day that the NY skyline would change forever.
When we landed in ORD, we still had no idea what had happened that day. Apparently our plan was close enough to ORD so that we did not have to divert to the closest airport when they grounded all aircraft. I remember noticing clearly that the plane took an unusual taxi from the runway to the gate, hugging the outer edges of the airport. When we got to the gate, the pilot came on the intercom and announced, "I have something to tell you that will upset you and will change your day". Then something about planes hitting the twin towers and the towers falling down. There was no way to comprehend what he was telling us. We deplaned, and ORD was a ghost town. All the TV's had been turned off. Everyone jumped on their cell phones to call their loved ones and to find out what had happened. Stories were passed around, "They crashed into the FBI, the CIA, the Pentagon".
We quickly cancelled our business plans and went to the Hertz rental area to get our "reserved" car and drive home. The line extended all around the complex, as many had not returned their cars as planned. After waiting hopelessly in line, I decided to see if I could work another angle, and somehow got a Hertz employee to help. He said to meet me at parking space 56 (and I'm thinking, why does he have to meet me there?). We get there - the car is a subcompact for the 4 of us, and he tells us that the battery needs to be jumped. We were so happy to have a car, we didn't argue. He jumped the car and off we went, stopping at the O'Hare oasis for Burger King (not because we were hungry, but because we had to eat). I remember us trying to decide whether to leave the engine running when we went inside to eat.
We then began our journey east to NJ, listening non-stop to the radio coverage of the day's events. In South Bend, we decided to see if we could get a larger car (we were way to big for this tiny car). I went into the desolate South Bend airport, where I first saw video of the towers falling. I convinced the Hertz clerk to trade our clown car for a "luxurious" Taurus - and it made a big difference. We spent the night somewhere in Ohio (watching President Bush address the nation in the lobby as we checked in).
We continued on the next day to NY, and to awaiting neighborhoods of concerned, welcoming, relieved families and neighbors. Especially my wife, who initially heard from Peter Jennings at the beginning of the day that a Continental jet on the way to Chicago was one of the planes involved.
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,175
Nice post. Another question. Who was on a plane that got diverted when all planes had to land at the closest airport. Did you stay at a hotel till the airports were opened or did you rent a car to either get back home or to your destination. I guess this would depend on how far you from your origin or destination. Did the airlines have to pay for your hotel or car rental since the situation was not weather related.
#37
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Diamond; CCarlson Elite
Posts: 641
My question is why did everyone seem to feel the need to cancel everything and go home? I mean, 9/11 was a crazy day, but New York is a long way from Chicago. I was in Williamsburg VA at the time, and I remember wondering why terrorist attacks in NYC and DC = holiday in Williamsburg....
#38
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS-GoldMVP,Hilton, Hyatt, Hertz
Posts: 909
My question is why did everyone seem to feel the need to cancel everything and go home? I mean, 9/11 was a crazy day, but New York is a long way from Chicago. I was in Williamsburg VA at the time, and I remember wondering why terrorist attacks in NYC and DC = holiday in Williamsburg....
It doesn't matter, in a bad situation, all you want to do is be home, where everything is familiar where you feel safest.
Last edited by Emeraldcity; Sep 9, 2011 at 4:33 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,418
September 11th was the "Pearl Harbor" of our generation --- an attack so unnerving and surprising that the overall feeling of the country was shock and dismay.
When that happens, there's no work that's going to be done.
#40
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: US
Programs: DL GE
Posts: 1,654
My question is why did everyone seem to feel the need to cancel everything and go home? I mean, 9/11 was a crazy day, but New York is a long way from Chicago. I was in Williamsburg VA at the time, and I remember wondering why terrorist attacks in NYC and DC = holiday in Williamsburg....
Sure, none of these hypothetical alternatives transpired, however, your situational awareness needs an upgrade.
#41
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NY Metro
Programs: UA Silver, BA Silver, Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 408
My question is why did everyone seem to feel the need to cancel everything and go home? I mean, 9/11 was a crazy day, but New York is a long way from Chicago. I was in Williamsburg VA at the time, and I remember wondering why terrorist attacks in NYC and DC = holiday in Williamsburg....
#42
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,614
I flew AMS-LHR. As I left the client site, there was a headline on the BBC ticker - we thought it was a stray light aircraft.
By the time we were airside at Schiphol, every television set was switched to the news, everybody staring in silence at the horrifying images.
The flight was subdued and uncomfortable. We were diverted due to closed airspace over central london.
I got home and phoned everyone. The evening was spent with a deep unease - at what might follow, whether more attacks, attacks on London, or an ill-judged reprisal that could spark something bigger.
By the time we were airside at Schiphol, every television set was switched to the news, everybody staring in silence at the horrifying images.
The flight was subdued and uncomfortable. We were diverted due to closed airspace over central london.
I got home and phoned everyone. The evening was spent with a deep unease - at what might follow, whether more attacks, attacks on London, or an ill-judged reprisal that could spark something bigger.
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 10,011
Wow, all these stories are amazing.
That's a great way to describe it.
I'm going to guess that at the time you were relatively young.
September 11th was the "Pearl Harbor" of our generation --- an attack so unnerving and surprising that the overall feeling of the country was shock and dismay.
When that happens, there's no work that's going to be done.
September 11th was the "Pearl Harbor" of our generation --- an attack so unnerving and surprising that the overall feeling of the country was shock and dismay.
When that happens, there's no work that's going to be done.
That's a great way to describe it.
#44
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
As I recall everything just stopped. I was at home, about to start my first year at uni. My parents had left the radio on in the kitchen and they announced a plane had crashed into the WTC- I thought it was an idiot in a cessna or something like that. So I turned on the telly and realised it wasn't. Dad (I think he was home sick) came in and we watched it. And I was having denial issues, I didn't want to believe that the things falling out of the windows were people, or the second aircraft was an airliner... People change - I guessed what 7/7 was as soon as it became apparent there were multiple explosions... didn't make it out of the house that day either.
11/7 I was in the National Archive and they announced there had been more terrorist attacks. We just looked at each other, shrugged, and went back to work.
Always remember, never surrender
11/7 I was in the National Archive and they announced there had been more terrorist attacks. We just looked at each other, shrugged, and went back to work.
Always remember, never surrender
#45
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: OHIO - CVG,DAY
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, DL DM MM. National Exec... and my CC qualified for Plat. Status!
Posts: 469
I was intentionally home. I went with my wife to the OB/GYN for an ultrasound. Our daughter's first pic has that date on it.