story10280.xml

story10280.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-12-28

I am an air traffic controller for the FAA. Have been for almost 24 years. I was working New York (JFK) inbound flights that day. The New York Air Traffic Control Center had just shut me off - they were not accepting any more inbound flights from me so I had to start putting flights into a holding pattern. Pilots were asking me what the reason for the hold was but I initially couldn't tell them. Information was initially very sketchy. As official information filtered down to me I felt a very deep feeling of sorrow - I wanted to cry. I had to maintain my demeanor and land these planes. We were then ordered to land the planes at the nearest available airport.

I have never felt the deep feelings of sorrow that I felt that day. I hope I never experience something like that again.