Part II: No one was sure if hijackers were on board (A USA Today 9/11 must read Part II)

USA Today ^ | Aug 12, 2002 | Alan Levin, Marilyn Adams and Blake Morrison

[Prodigal Son]

Aboard Delta Flight 1989, Capt. Paul Werner learns of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks from his cockpit radio. The time: around 9:15 a.m. Werner, 54, figures the planes that hit the World Trade Center must be small ones

[Prodigal Son]

Part One

Trailer/related story- Korean Air jet may have narrowly missed disaster

[Selara]

Thank you.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

What little bit of peace I have from this all comes from me knowing that every human slug how perpetuated this is slowly roasting in Hell and Heaven has 3,000 new Angels.

You have any idea what it is like to stand on the ramp, general aviation at LAX at one PM PST, normally a time when the noise is unbearable, all the heavies pushing for their dailies to such places as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney and Tokyo…

And hear nothing.

I do and it will bring tears to a grown mans eyes.

[Fabozz]

"You have any idea what it is like to stand on the ramp... And hear nothing."

I know what that sounds like from the other side—I was in the DFW terminal at 10:30. Every jetway had been run out to its full length, then swung against the side of the terminal as impromptu blast shields. Empty gray chairs faced huge picture windows that showed nothing but gray steel. The ubiquitous "CNN Airport" TVs were all dark. Every concession stand was closed.

One at a time, planes would pull up to the furthest gate in the terminal, a bomb-sniffing dog would make a quick check, then the passengers would get off and make their way to baggage claim or the taxi stand. The only business still functioning was the airport bar, where a dozen people were clustered watching CNN on the satellite TV normally reserved for ESPN. No one was talking anywhere—the terminal was so quiet you could hear that single TV for a half-dozen gates in either direction.

The departure and arrival monitors listed a hundred flights, every last one of them canceled... all but one, with a strange flight number much higher than all the others, that was still scheduled for 1:00 that afternoon. As best I can tell, that flight was intended to take AMR's executives, crash investigators and grief counselors out to NYC, as they would after any crash. But of course even that plane didn't leave the ground.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Reading it, remembering it...

There are no words.

[Prodigal Son]

And hear nothing.

Wow, no I can't imagine. It must be eerily like the end of the world somehow... Thanks for sharing that.

[Publius6961]

And hear nothing.
I do and it will bring tears to a grown mans eyes.

And the weeks following...

I work where I can view entire horizon outside, and since the early 50s, no matter the time of day, the sky was blue... and empty.

And no sound. Just the occasional bird. It was a feeling not unlke watching a rerun of the Twilight Zone.

Except it was real. And it was now.

[jriemer]

bttt

[T. P. Pole]

The part with the pilots searching for something to arm themselves with and being stuck with steak knives and wine bottles should be read by all the idiots that don't want the pilots to have guns.

[southland]

POST 10: I agree with you ,it would take a certified idiot to say it would be better to shoot down a hijacked airplane rather than give the pilots guns.

[Prodigal Son]

Yep to both of you. Could you imagine if those pilots actually had terrorists on board and they're trying to fend 'em off with bottles of wine? My lord... Actually a bottle of wine makes a pretty good club, but a gun would be so much better.

[aristeides]

Bump.

[CarolAnn]

This has got to be one of the most fascinating pieces I have ever read. It should also open some eyes as to why pilots want to be able to carry guns.

[Prodigal Son]

Yep, that is one of the most glaring points to be taken from this piece. Also, the thing that struck me, was I had never given that much thought to just how much the FAA had on their plate that horrible morning. They landed over 4,000 aircraft in a very short space of time and I never even thought twice about it- I always figure they must be used to doing that- like firefighters rushing into a burning building...

[jriemer]

bttt

[Prodigal Son]

Cross referencing related thread:

FAA says it had 11 other suspect planes on Sept. 11

And a shameless bump as well...

[Badray]

"Actually a bottle of wine makes a pretty good club, but a gun would be so much better."

Until the idiots in DC come to their senses and allow pilots (and passengers) to be armed, we must all think of alternatives to use. I would suggest bringing along a copy or 2 of FORBES magazine for your reading pleasure. In an emergency it can be used as either a makeshift chest protector (inside your shirt to deflect steak knives and box cutters) or it can be used as a club. Rolled up tightly, it has the same effect as an axe handle when shoved into some one's gut. Even Reader's Digest can be used in this manner. And (for now) it's perfectly legal to carry on board.

[Prodigal Son]

Aye, there's much room for creativity when it comes to makeshift weapons. I, personally, suggest a small sturdy rucksack- filled with useful items that you will actually use. Paperbacks. Candy. Bottle of soda etc. Especially if it is one of those that has the little grab handle on the top, it can be swung overhead and down on an attacker like a mace or just in a side to side "warding off" swing. Can also double up as shield duty and of course you can always put your purchases in it. If you're not going on an airplane, you could put a can of baked beans in it for serious headknocking ability or handtools, turning it into an all purpose treasure trove that can be used in a potentially lethal manner. If you were using it as hand baggage on a flight and a "situation" arose, you could perhaps fill it with other passengers' shoes, books etc and make a dandy club with it.