story2513.xml

story2513.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

We got the word from our Operations Center of a possilbe hijacking, and a flight attendant allegedly being stabbed. A co-worker ran out of her office and shouted to turn the T.V. to CNN, a plane had flown into the WTC. We watched in absolute astonishment as the second plane flew into the other WTC building. Our Washington Operations Center began to roll with the reports of the goings on around the country. Monte Belger, the ROCK of the FAA ordered to clear the airspace, never in history of the NAS had this been done. And from that moment forward, the professionalism of those in the agency, all the telephone calls from the Secretary, The White House, Congressional Officials, town Mayors, aviation industry, the general public, while still trying to comprehend what had happened. Trying to get Congressional Members, co-workers, transplant reciepients, all those who NEEDED to fly, getting them where there needed to go, while still maintaining a secure NAS. Landing over 4000 aircraft, anywhere that was closest. Watching the city evacuate ~ waiting to see if the 4th hikacked airplane was coming our way, what was the target ~ who did they want to hurt? And the days that followed, co-workers sleeping on the couches and at their desks, doing above and beyond the call of duty. People working 24-hour shifts, nights, weekends, eating donughts and pizza. Opening up the airspace, getting those folks that were stranded who knows where, to their destination. Yet still, trying to understand why. A year later ~ None of us will EVER forget ~ GOD BLESS AMERICA.