Where at US AIrways were on on 9/11?
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SparrowHawk
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I was coming back from ORD with 6 other people on a 737 the Sunday after. Odd is the only word I can think of as I went through security surrounded by Military sporting M-16's.
Having the Royal Dutch Marines in Schipol (AMS) seems fine but when our military came out to protect us it seemed different and not in a good way
HPearlyretiree
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As the attacks had happened and the towers were down before starting the work day, I went to the HQ as usual. There were guards at the parking entrances and in front of the building. Work was weird that day. We were given passenger manifests to compare to lists of terrorist names. Later in the week, I helped by calling crews that were stranded in other cities, asking if they OK to ferry back the planes when we got the all clear, and that if not, we could make arrangements. Every crew member I spoke with said "hell yes".
We were one of the first airlines to get back in the air, everyone in the building was looking out the windows as our planes took off. I remember pulling PBT''s for the days after we started flying again and seeing loads with 15, 12, 18 passengers booked. I realized that it may be time to get out of the biz, which I did the following January. I miss the great people, and am thankful I still have the flight benefits. It was a rough day, and a rough go afterwards.
We were one of the first airlines to get back in the air, everyone in the building was looking out the windows as our planes took off. I remember pulling PBT''s for the days after we started flying again and seeing loads with 15, 12, 18 passengers booked. I realized that it may be time to get out of the biz, which I did the following January. I miss the great people, and am thankful I still have the flight benefits. It was a rough day, and a rough go afterwards.
BoeingBoy
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I was home with a trip that afternoon. Turned TV on after the 1st plane hit the WTC, and the talking heads were treating it as an accident and wondering how a plane fly could into the WTC on such a gorgeous day. Watched the 2nd plane hit and everybody realized it wasn't an accident. Then the plane hit the Pentagon and another was reported out of contact heading toward DC. Started to get ready to head for CLT - packing, showering, etc, and was driving through HP when I heard the news on the radio that all air traffic had been grounded. Called scheduling to confirm and went back home.
Jim
Jim
traderjake
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I was sleeping in the Milford Plaza Hotel in Times Square.
Walked into the break room at LAS, saw the second plane hit. Went and loaded the 0700 PHX flight. Got the flight loaded, was chatting with the pilots when they heard on the ADF that a plane hit the Pentagon. Heard on the radio "All team leads working flights contact Ops via landline." Called Ops and they said "The National airspace system is shut down, secure your aircraft." Eventually I downloaded the plane, helped remote a few off the gates, then went home from my graveyard shift (scared shitless I might add) and hit the internet.
cactusboy53
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At home in MO, having just finshied a PC late on the 9th in PHX. Pretty boring story, but glad & blessed to have been home with my family. This is the 10th anniversary of a day that forever changed all of our lives.
I saw a program the other day that interviewed a US Air pilot that had lost his wife on one of the airplanes that she was working on. I am truly sorry for your loss.
May God Bless the surviors, families of the victims, the first responders, our men & wormen that serve or have served in our armed forces and the United States of America!
I saw a program the other day that interviewed a US Air pilot that had lost his wife on one of the airplanes that she was working on. I am truly sorry for your loss.
May God Bless the surviors, families of the victims, the first responders, our men & wormen that serve or have served in our armed forces and the United States of America!
ChrisUS
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I had just returned to the ticket counter in BUF from lunch since I was working the 4 am to 12:30 pm shift. A coworker popped her head out the break room door and said a plane had just hit the WTC. I asked, "Is it foggy in NYC?" I checked the weather and said, "no, it's beautiful! How could this happen? " I was checking in the parent's of a non rev who were headed to Asheville, NC. I excused myself, ran back to look for a minute and returned to them. I said, "wow, some people had to die in that, I wonder how they are going to repair that. A pilot must have head a heart attack. I hope it wasn't some nut who decided to commit suicide ." When the 2nd plane hit, a call came in from the son of a fellow employee who worked on Wall Street. He asked for his Dad and told me a plane had hit the WTC. I told him we knew and he said, no, the 2nd tower as been hit. I just stared at the parents who were still standing before me since we had been chatting. I told them the news and said ," this is NOT an accident or fluke, this was the act of terrorists." I found the father of the caller from NYC and returned to the non revs. I told them EVERYTHING was going to change and we would NEVER FORGET what we were doing at this moment. :-(
I was on call as a F100 reserve captain. I didn't think I would fly so I was planting some trees. I ran to Home Depot to pick something up and someone in line said that an airplane had flown into the World Trade Center. The same questions went through my mind as other posters. When I got home my wife told me what had happened, as the second airplane had just hit the other tower.
Our daughter was in middle school, in a magnate program that was pretty wired and into current events. Since at times I would be at home when she went to school and then called out and not there when she got home, we decided we should call the school and have them let her know I was at home and okay. Her Mom made the call while I finished up with the trees. About a half an hour later my wife got a phone call from my daughter, and she was so hysterical my wife couldn't understand her. She told her I was okay and she would come get her. When the arrived back home my daughter ran to me, crying and would not let go. My wife had to give me the rest of the story. Apparently her message was handed off to an office assistant who went to my daughter class and told her something like "You Dad's airplane was hijacked, but he's okay. And you're missing an earring." The child never left my side that day and I thought of how many children would not be crying tears of relief that day.
The next day as I was finishing in the yard, I was struck by the lack of A/C in the sky. I lived just south of GSO and always had A/C passing over. I thought "Our lives will never be the same". One of the great understatements of my life.
Our daughter was in middle school, in a magnate program that was pretty wired and into current events. Since at times I would be at home when she went to school and then called out and not there when she got home, we decided we should call the school and have them let her know I was at home and okay. Her Mom made the call while I finished up with the trees. About a half an hour later my wife got a phone call from my daughter, and she was so hysterical my wife couldn't understand her. She told her I was okay and she would come get her. When the arrived back home my daughter ran to me, crying and would not let go. My wife had to give me the rest of the story. Apparently her message was handed off to an office assistant who went to my daughter class and told her something like "You Dad's airplane was hijacked, but he's okay. And you're missing an earring." The child never left my side that day and I thought of how many children would not be crying tears of relief that day.
The next day as I was finishing in the yard, I was struck by the lack of A/C in the sky. I lived just south of GSO and always had A/C passing over. I thought "Our lives will never be the same". One of the great understatements of my life.
Art at ISP
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I was at ISP getting ready to board a B-1900 to BOS. My friend was the agent at the gate, and she saw a message on the system that an aircraft had hit the WTC. Initially they thought it was an accident, and that the aircraft was a Cessna or similar, but soon it became apparent what had happened as the second airplane hit. Shortly thereafter the order was given to close the airspace and I stayed with my friends at US Express for an hour or so to watch coverage on the TV in the coffee shop area. Finally I decided it was time to drive home.
As I got on the Long Island Expressway at Ronkonkoma, I noticed how clear it was....and heard on the radio that roads into NYC were shut down. As I got a little closer to home, I could see the smoke in the distance--it was an eerie sight I will never ever forget. Once home I began to call around to check on friends who were still active duty firefighters....I lost a number of friends that day, including two firefighters and a Port Authority cop...
God bless those who were taken from us that day, and those who worked so hard to rescue others--and in particular God bless those who are now suffering and in poor health as a result of being there during and after the attack.....and GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
As I got on the Long Island Expressway at Ronkonkoma, I noticed how clear it was....and heard on the radio that roads into NYC were shut down. As I got a little closer to home, I could see the smoke in the distance--it was an eerie sight I will never ever forget. Once home I began to call around to check on friends who were still active duty firefighters....I lost a number of friends that day, including two firefighters and a Port Authority cop...
God bless those who were taken from us that day, and those who worked so hard to rescue others--and in particular God bless those who are now suffering and in poor health as a result of being there during and after the attack.....and GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
I was flying as FO on Metrojet from BOS-PBI took off around 8am must have been not far behind the fatefull AA and UAL aircraft. As soon as I checked in with NY center he was telling a Air France to pick a diversion airport because all NY airports closed due to aircraft hitting WTC . Someone asked what type ac and ATC responded AA 767 soon after ATC said another airliner hit the other WTC and broadcast all ac be viligent two domestic flts hijacked and crashed. We could see the smoke from over tip of Long Island and as we continued S off the NY coast. We were eventually diverted into ORF after the Pentagon was hit.
SparrowHawk
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It never really deep down hit me until a few weeks later. I think I compartmentalized the event, just wanting to move forward with my own selfish interests. I figured we would go after them and having complete confidence in our military, I went about my business until one evening.
I was bored and I flipped on the TV and there was a program on the History Channel about Pearl Harbor. I watched the entire program and finally the events of 9/11 became crystal clear. I began to recall my childhood in rural PA and my Grandmother who lived with us. She was so proud or her 2 sons. Dad & Uncle Ken were both veterans of WWII, Ken in Europe and his kid brother was in the Army of Occupation. I have vivid memories of Grandmom telling me in great detail the events of December 7th, 1941, where she was, what she was doing when she heard the news. She collected news clippings, pictures anything and everything she could on the attack. She also had a hero of her own. I think deep down she really wanted more than society allowed in those days as her hero was Amelia Earhart. She was the quietest Patriot I ever met when it came to speaking about things like Pearl Harbor. But she sure as hell made sure I knew what happened. To the point where I made sure I was on the road on Dec 7th the years I worked for the Japanese companies.
Now ten years after 9/11it is you & I who have taken her generations place as the flame keepers. Just as in the days of Pearl Harbor, we endured, keeping the memories alive so that no one can ever say "what's the big deal" or some other repugnant remark. All of us speak for those who've gone before. Our memories and collective conscience ensures that all who perished will never be forgotten. Our tear dimmed eyes will not allow us to forget. The images to this very day will just rip your emotional skin off and you know what? They should! Lest we forget.
View attachment 9176 View attachment 9177
Step away from the computer and go hug your loved ones!! Yes even the cat! or dog. Tell everyone of them prior to kick off just how much you love them. Then reflect on just how fortunate you really are. To all of the First Responders, Thank you for your selfless bravery on that day and everyday, you are an inspiration to us.
I was bored and I flipped on the TV and there was a program on the History Channel about Pearl Harbor. I watched the entire program and finally the events of 9/11 became crystal clear. I began to recall my childhood in rural PA and my Grandmother who lived with us. She was so proud or her 2 sons. Dad & Uncle Ken were both veterans of WWII, Ken in Europe and his kid brother was in the Army of Occupation. I have vivid memories of Grandmom telling me in great detail the events of December 7th, 1941, where she was, what she was doing when she heard the news. She collected news clippings, pictures anything and everything she could on the attack. She also had a hero of her own. I think deep down she really wanted more than society allowed in those days as her hero was Amelia Earhart. She was the quietest Patriot I ever met when it came to speaking about things like Pearl Harbor. But she sure as hell made sure I knew what happened. To the point where I made sure I was on the road on Dec 7th the years I worked for the Japanese companies.
Now ten years after 9/11it is you & I who have taken her generations place as the flame keepers. Just as in the days of Pearl Harbor, we endured, keeping the memories alive so that no one can ever say "what's the big deal" or some other repugnant remark. All of us speak for those who've gone before. Our memories and collective conscience ensures that all who perished will never be forgotten. Our tear dimmed eyes will not allow us to forget. The images to this very day will just rip your emotional skin off and you know what? They should! Lest we forget.
View attachment 9176 View attachment 9177
Step away from the computer and go hug your loved ones!! Yes even the cat! or dog. Tell everyone of them prior to kick off just how much you love them. Then reflect on just how fortunate you really are. To all of the First Responders, Thank you for your selfless bravery on that day and everyday, you are an inspiration to us.
