9-11 recordings capture terror in the sky
- 13 years ago
(ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: A comprehensive release of many of the recorded communications between military and civilian air traffic controllers of the hijackings on September 11, 2001 have been made public for the first time.
A team at Rutgers Law Review has provided a real-time look at how air traffic control responded to the hijackings as the world watched on television.
One of the first calls came regarding the hijacking of American Airlines flight 11.
"I am monitoring a call in which flight 11, the flight attendant is advising our reps that the pilot, everyone's been stabbed," said Nidia Gonzalez to an emergency worker at American Airlines.
The recordings also document the terrifying screams of passengers aboard United Flight 93 minutes before the fatal crash into Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Cleveland's Air Traffic Controllers called out in disbelief about what they were hearing from the plane.
"Did you hear your company, ah, some interference on the frequency, ah, couple a minutes ago, screaming?"
A member of United Flight 1523 responded, "Yes I did...and, ah, we couldn't tell what it was either."
The recordings illustrate the high level of confusion and disbelief among air traffic control workers as the hijackings were taking place.
The 9/11 Commission staff has begun compiling the air traffic control recordings and transcripts but had not completed it in time to be released with the 9/11 Commission report.
STORY: A comprehensive release of many of the recorded communications between military and civilian air traffic controllers of the hijackings on September 11, 2001 have been made public for the first time.
A team at Rutgers Law Review has provided a real-time look at how air traffic control responded to the hijackings as the world watched on television.
One of the first calls came regarding the hijacking of American Airlines flight 11.
"I am monitoring a call in which flight 11, the flight attendant is advising our reps that the pilot, everyone's been stabbed," said Nidia Gonzalez to an emergency worker at American Airlines.
The recordings also document the terrifying screams of passengers aboard United Flight 93 minutes before the fatal crash into Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Cleveland's Air Traffic Controllers called out in disbelief about what they were hearing from the plane.
"Did you hear your company, ah, some interference on the frequency, ah, couple a minutes ago, screaming?"
A member of United Flight 1523 responded, "Yes I did...and, ah, we couldn't tell what it was either."
The recordings illustrate the high level of confusion and disbelief among air traffic control workers as the hijackings were taking place.
The 9/11 Commission staff has begun compiling the air traffic control recordings and transcripts but had not completed it in time to be released with the 9/11 Commission report.