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Easy, FM. Later in the call it was explained that Betty contacted the reservations center. -- <assumption> maybe she had speed dial set up on her phone to check in for assignments, etc.</assumption> -- I doubt a reservations call center whould set up for emergency call dispatching (esp. pre-9/11) and even if they had a way, it probably hadn't been used in years.

Next, I think the seat number question was due to thinking she was a passenger and it must be SOP to try and tie the name to a manifest. Betty's saying "I'm #3 on the flight" might not have significance to the worker in the department handling the call.

In the very short timespan of the conversations they determined the flight was hijacked, ATC was notified, radio contact attempted, and realization that the transponder was turned off. It was a little rough but other then the emergency ops guy, I'm not sure how many of the participants had proper training and the day-to-day experience that let's you stay cool when "OMG, someone on the flight is telling me it's been hijacked" is running inside your mind.

I'll take your points as to the first part of the call. But once she clearly stated who she was, what flight it was, etc., they continued with the stupid questions like they were looking around for the proper forms to fill out.

As we know from that day, regular passengers got through to their spouses or relatives that made 911 calls and got more information out than these two calls did.

I'm sticking with my attitude that these bureaucracies are horribly ran by bloated employees with no brains. Come on, you've flown I'm sure and had contact with brainless airline employees.

As for the "Easy, FM", I'll take that as an abbreviation of my nickname and not you calling me a Kerry-Moron! lol