rickair7777

Supposed to fly that afternoon. Obviously not happening, decided to drive north to NYC to see if they needed any help (strong back and some military medical training).

Some hours into that, my west coast reserve unit called (yes I had a cell phone), told me to report to our sister unit in S. Florida... did a 180 on I-95, arrived in Palm Beach at 0400 on the 12th after about 18 hours on the road. Hurry up and wait, the unit didn't actually go until 2003. I guess it gave me something to do to take my mind off it all.

Guppydriver95

Was a 57/67 FO at United. Still here. Watched on TV in horror as the day unfolded. Became more surreal as I realized I had flown both the airplanes that we lost that day. Still hits a raw nerve thinking about it.

Pilot4000

I was not a pilot, but I was working in aviation. Went to go fuel the NWA A320 DTW turn, and the ops agent said hold off on fueling, there is a ground stop. Went back to the FBO right when the second airplane hit. Went home a few hours later and didn't go back to work for a few days.

Boxhound

Was an Eagle captain flying that day.

Diverted, had a new flight attendant being checked out, both quit.

Stuck on the ground for some days.

We were one of the first back into DFW, approach told us they were glad to see us.

The company we so faithfully served declared open warfare on the Pilot group.

My flying job disappeared/went back to college at 40 years old.

I'm thankful and grateful for what I have today.

I try not to think about "what if", just too painful.

God Bless and Keep all who were lost, and their families.




The Pee Wee Herman hijacking tape we used to watch in recurrent training disappeared overnight, btw.

Sliceback

If you were flying for AA or UA at the time people have all sorts of stories from knowing their coworkers, friends, or best friends, who were murdered. Or people who trip traded off the trips, or who'd flown with the murdered coworkers. Or randomly interacted with the victims.

I saw BOS Captain John Ogonowski in the hotel lobby in LAX on September 9th as we both arrived at the same time. I'd seen him before. The morning of the 10th he grabbed the computer terminal right next to me as we pulled up our paperwork. "Do anything interesting yesterday?" Nah. Just had dinner at XYZ. You? "Nothing special. Where you headed to?" BOS. You? "EWR. What's your flight number? I'll look for you out there." 12(???? I have no clue what the reply was). "Have a good flight." You too. I'll listen up for you. My best friend was also in ops that day. He saw me talking with John. The crazy part is my buddy remembers who *I* was flying with that day. On 9/11 they announce the crew names. Means nothing to him and I as we didn't recognize the names. But when they posted the crew's pictures later on 9/11, or more correctly I think I saw it on 9/12, we both realized who John was. One of the F/A's on his flight on 9/11 was part of the gang of junior folks that I was part of that often flew the same trip together, 'Ground Hog Day', for several years. Antigua layover, again and again. Hardship tour.... Enough so that when I flew my first trip the FO and FE were wondering which bathing suits the F/A's had brought with them and which one's they preferred. I'm thinking "what?!? They know their bathing suits?" Several months later I did too...

Buddy had to go to the airport to drive home of the murdered pilots car home. Best friends. Another pilot had tripped traded off of the trip. The pilot who lost his life called up him "I need Thursday off. Can I grab your Tuesday/Wednesday trip and you take my Wednesday/Thursday trip?" Life saving trade...he said he had survivors guilt for years and maybe he still does? I'd flown with him before 9/11. Another pilot was on reserve. The trip sat open for days. "I told my wife - that trips coming to me so I'll be gone Tuesday-Wednesday. It fit into my schedule well." Sure enough just prior to daily filling of open time his name is on the crew list (NS in AA talk). 4 PM and no call..."okay maybe they're busy filling other trips." Time passes...no call from crew scheduling. He checks the NS again, he's no longer on the trip. Since he wanted the trip he calls crew scheduiing - "we missed a guy had put himself in open time. So he got the trip." I flew with him both before and after 9/11. The ball of life bounced in his favor that day.

Another buddy was in the daily LONG morning conga line in EWR. Saw the UA 757 going by him the other way ahead of him in the line. Sitting #1 at EWR 04L viewing the NYC skyline on a beautiful morning. Taxi's into position and hold. Cleared for takeoff. At 80 kts he glances to cross-check the FO's airspeed tape and sees smoke with his peripheral vision. The WTC was just hit between his holding short and reaching 80 kts. Tells the FO "check that out. Fire." He said he thought "wow, that came up fast." A minute or two between looking at the skyline and now it's on fire? V1, rotate and they were gone wondering what could have created that much smoke (fire?) so quickly? In Western PA they got a message from dispatch. Basically said 'this is not a drill. Land anywhere appropriate. Call me when you're on the ground.' He's thinking "WTF?" when suddenly all the other flights start asking for divert instructions with ATC. It sinks in - this is not a drill. Still no clue what was going on. Lands and either dispatch or the TV's clue him in. The image of that day is probably seared into his memory.

I volunteered on Friday (?) to be one of the first crews to fly. EWR-LAX. But then they had another security scare and the flights were cancelled. We were in EWR ops and their were armed soldiers in the baggage claim area. We were told to stay out of sight so we hung out to see if the flights would ever depart. Actually was assigned a DHD to LAX and then fly back the next day. Ultimately cancelled. A foreign crew had stepped up to fly...and everyone thought "is this a secondary attack plan?" Too much uncertainty so flying was cancelled. One of the F/A's was the best friend of one of the wives of one of the murdered pilots. She heard the news on 9/11 and called her best friend. No answer. Calls the wife's mother's number - "she's home. She's not flying today. I'll tell her to call you." The wife often flew with her husband so the F/A thought both her BF and her friend's pilot husband were off that morning. That world crumbled when her friend called her back.

Minor stories that I know of from people closer to the attacks. But to them it's not history...it's their lives and the long term after effects that will always be there.

I'd flown with, or had meet, maybe 10-12, or more, of the crew members murdered on 9/11. That's nothing extraordinary if you were ever based in BOS/NYC or DCA for AA or UA.

Tough writing this stuff as was yesterday but it is NOTHING like the feelings the victims families and friends experience.

rickair7777

Yes. As a west coast dude I didn't know anyone personally, although one of the AA FO's used the same AME that I did.

PRS Guitars

I was a CFI that day, had been interviewing at regionals that summer and was looking for an AF reserve job. I went to an Active Duty recruiter on Sept 12th and was in Air Force Pilot training a year later.

TiredSoul

I was a CFI also, having a coffee at 9am at home before heading to the flight school for a flight at 10am.
Room mate was flying with his student and returned after hearing the ‘national emergency’ calls on all Unicom frequencies telling everyone to land at the nearest airport.
Airport buddy who was trying to get me in on his KingAir gig was laid off like the next day.