story5622.xml
Title
story5622.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
Sept. 11, 2001, I was to depart from Newark Airport to Denver, Co. at 8:05AM.
As we were taxing off the gate (late as usual) at about 8:15, our pilot anounced there was a problem with one of the cockpit's lights and that we were pulling off the line in order to clear the problem. The pilot also said that while we waited for the test, we could watch what looked like an spectacular fire in one of the twin towers (the north tower had just been hit).
I remember sitting there trying to look across the isle trying to see the fire, but not seeing much. A few minutes later the pilot reported the problem solved and that we were ready to resume departure.
As we took off from Newark at about 8:35AM, the plane first headed south before turning east and then north up the Hudson River, this route took us west of the twin towers, and gave me a clear view of the burning North Tower.
I remember wondering what could cause so much smoke on an office building, because by this time the colunm of smoke extended south for a few miles.
The next few minutes were normal as the crew stated preparations for the morning breakfast, but even before anyone was served, the pilot annouced the due to high shear winds in Denver we were being diverted to Cleveland.
Eventually we landed in Johnstown, Ohio along with six other planes (minutes after flight 93 flew over the airport on its way to the Pennsylvania field).
The rest I guess its the same as for every other American; sadness, rage, pain and tears. Memories of looking at the towers on the night of Sept.8th from Liberty State Park, and thinking how imposing they were but just taking them for granted, just as we do our life, liberties and freedom.
I for one we'll never look at life the same way again.
As we were taxing off the gate (late as usual) at about 8:15, our pilot anounced there was a problem with one of the cockpit's lights and that we were pulling off the line in order to clear the problem. The pilot also said that while we waited for the test, we could watch what looked like an spectacular fire in one of the twin towers (the north tower had just been hit).
I remember sitting there trying to look across the isle trying to see the fire, but not seeing much. A few minutes later the pilot reported the problem solved and that we were ready to resume departure.
As we took off from Newark at about 8:35AM, the plane first headed south before turning east and then north up the Hudson River, this route took us west of the twin towers, and gave me a clear view of the burning North Tower.
I remember wondering what could cause so much smoke on an office building, because by this time the colunm of smoke extended south for a few miles.
The next few minutes were normal as the crew stated preparations for the morning breakfast, but even before anyone was served, the pilot annouced the due to high shear winds in Denver we were being diverted to Cleveland.
Eventually we landed in Johnstown, Ohio along with six other planes (minutes after flight 93 flew over the airport on its way to the Pennsylvania field).
The rest I guess its the same as for every other American; sadness, rage, pain and tears. Memories of looking at the towers on the night of Sept.8th from Liberty State Park, and thinking how imposing they were but just taking them for granted, just as we do our life, liberties and freedom.
I for one we'll never look at life the same way again.
Collection
Citation
“story5622.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 9, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/17156.