Remembering 911 - Were you in the Air?

[tjsatter]

We'd departed IND enroute back to ABQ in the Falcon. Wheels up @ IND as the first plane hit. Of course we knew not. Planned fuel stop at LIT. On vectors, then cleared direct LIT "and plan on staying there awhile"

What the heck does that mean? Immediately ATC then says a national ground stop has been ordered and all aircraft are instructed to land immediatley at the nearest airport. The radio comes alive as many other planes who had not planned on landing LIT are now heading there. I'm wondering what in the world is going on. The only thing I can think is a war and there was no war or threat of war an hour ago when we left IND. Nobody questions ATC and finally I say "What's going on?" ATC says "a plane has hit the World Trade Center" I have no clue that it was intentional but the freq is busy and it's obvious that I should not question instructions and just get this thing on the ground. (a crash into the WTC is horrible but what's that got to do with me, a 1000 miles away???)

The LIT ATIS is crazy: "National Ground Stop, Everyone must land NOW"

We're told to land, number 4 for the runway with 5 more close behind, expedite, exit the runway as quickly as possible.

Got out and into the FBO in time to see CNN both towers in flames and then collapse. Spent 5 days in LIT.

 

[DrEvil]

I tell you, these stories are just bone chilling to hear. This is great information to see how the message was sent to those in the skies at that time, as we would never imagine how this would impact us, and how we could be used against our own nation.

 

[Hawker rider]

Dr. Evil probably doesn't want to hear my story but i thought i will let hear anyway.

My wife was getting ready to go int o delivery around that time of septmeber and I fly for a little 135 operator as PIC in a lear24. right after midnight on the 11th of september i got a call from my wife that she had to go to the hospital because she wasn't feeling good and wanted to see a doctor. ( this is our first baby)

Since my boss approved it that if we had to go into labour that we would reposition back to the house even as soon as the news broke.

So we took to the air in the middle of the night. We landed at our home base around 4 am. went straight to the hospital and set there, when i turned the Tv on around 6 or so and saw all the events unfold.

We gave bith to a beatifull baby daughetr the 12th after a long an hard delivery.

I am just very glad that i got the call and flew home, just intime looking back on it!

 

[Fr8DoggyStyle]

we also left IND on that morning for LIT but we were dropping off freight there in a LR35 then going empty back to ELP. About half way there right after a handoff (i think we missed the announcements on both freqs just by timing) we started hearing people getting diverted. At first we thought an airport that some of the planes were going to might have been closed. Then we heard a comair plane make an inquiry into it and the controller said "EVERYONE HAS TO LAND". So now we are really racking our brains trying to figure out what the heck has happened. Soon after i am able pick up the LIT ATIS and it said "there is a national ground stop in effect- ALL VFR and IFR aircraft must land as soon as possible" and then gave the stats. A lot was happening on radio so we decided not to pester the controllers with questions. At that point the captain and I were starting to get a little nervous. We both knew there had never been a national ground stop before even during a war. The thought of nuclear winter or some sort of MASSIVE attack on the US was the only explanation that either of us could come up with, so we were obviously hoping we hadnt thought of something. We were able to land in LIT because we were already close enough and when we called the airport in sight they told us we were #12 for the airport. The controllers and pilots were all calm and professional. We watched the buildings fall from the FBO pilot lounge.

 

[surv1]

Was at the airport doing a pre-flight, when one of the guys came out and told me I needed to come see this on the TV. By the time I got inside and watched the unfolding events on the TV, the word came down that all air traffic was being halted.

 

[328dude]

Ty:

What? You working two jobs now. Just curious how you got AT to let you fly corporate on the side and stay under the regs.

 

[MTBoy]

Maybe Ty doesn't work for AT???

I've been curious about this for a few weeks after Ty tangled with me about the job market. Is Ty Webb this guy's real name, or is it his handle?

Ty, please come to your defense.

The FAA airman registry shows an airman by the last name of Webb with the first initial "T" from Texas who possesses a private pilot certificate. That appears to be the only record. Check it out for yourself at landings.com

Clue us in on this and you are off the hook on this issue.

 

[redshirt]

Ty Webb

I don't know anything about this Ty Webb cat, but for all of you Caddyshack fans out there, wasn't Ty Webb the name of Chevy Chase's character?

"Are you my pal, Mr. Scholarship winner? How 'bout a Fresca?"