9/11 Air Traffic Control.

Ammolite Unregistered

I realize that this is a sensitive, and controversial topic, but I'm morbidly curious as to what the opinions are of present ATCers on how 9/11 was handled procedurally at both ZNY, ZBW, ZDC, etc.

I've heard that the controllers took two hours to even report the planes' activity as suspicious, and that F/16s had to be scrambled from Langley in mere minutes. Is this true? I've also heard that, on a regular basis, more than 100 reports are made a year that they need to send fighters up to investigate. Valid or phfooey?

Do you believe that there was corruption down to the FAA controllers involved, and the manager who supposedly threw out the tape? Or was he merely trying to save everyone's proverbial ass (and jobs) from later criticism?

Please, no hateful messages on controlled demolition, tinfoil hat documentaries, and Cheney orchestrating the entire event in a RECON plane...I want to approach this from a purely ATC/AF standpoint.

Spokepoke Newcomer

Read the book Touching History. More than anything its a great read and will change how you think about ATC all together. I have no opinion because I'm waiting to go to OKC, but it was an awesome book.

Ammolite Unregistered

Thanks for the recommendation!

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Dateline did a pretty good feature on the controllers' perspective a while back. Here's a link to their page for it. Has the videos available to watch as well.

The skies over America - Dateline NBC

ColtsATC Trusted Contributor Indy

My dad was working at ZID when it happens. All he would tell me... "worst day of my life"

troio2 Senior Member Palm Harbor, FL

they did a movie from the air traffic controllers point of view. It was really hard to watch. cant remember the name of it

Ammolite Unregistered

NOWAI. I shall look for it.

Thanks for the link, Rosstafari, and for the anecdote, ColtsATC...I can only imagine.

troio2 Senior Member Palm Harbor, FL

I'm pretty sure it's called United 93... have to double check though

chichi Senior Member

Ok, I deleted my post because I confused United 93 with Flight 93... I think you're right - United 93 is the one that covers a lot more ATC.