It was just another Tuesday morning in September. United Airlines Flight 93, a U.S. domestic passenger flight, took off from Newark International Airport, NJ headed to San Francisco International Airport, CA. Just over 40 minutes into the flight four hijackers breached the cockpit, overpowered the pilots and took over control of the aircraft, diverting it toward Washington, DC as part of the September 11 attacks in 2001. Several passengers and crew members made telephone calls aboard the flight, learning about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. As a result, the passengers decided to mount an assault against the hijackers and wrest control of the aircraft.

The plane crashed just outside Shanksville in Somerset County, PA about 150 miles northwest of Washington, DC killing all 44 people aboard, including the hijackers. The plane fragmented upon impact, leaving a crater 30 to 50 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet deep and debris blown miles away from the crash site. Many witnessed the impact from the ground and news agencies began reporting on the event within an hour. Analysis of the flight recorders would later reveal how the actions taken by the passengers prevented the aircraft from reaching its intended target, thought to be either the White House or United States Capitol.

Altogether, the passengers and crew made 35 airphone calls and two cell phone calls from the flight. Ten passengers and two crew members were able make contact and provide information to family, friends and others on the ground.

1. Passenger Tom Burnett made several phone calls to his wife beginning at 9:30 explaining that the plane had been hijacked by men claiming to have a bomb. He also said that a passenger had been knifed and that he believed the bomb threat was a ruse to control the passengers. During one of the calls, his wife informed him of the attack on the World Trade Center. Tom he replied that the hijackers were talking about crashing plane, and stated, “Oh my God. It’s a suicide mission.” He ended his last call by saying, “Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.”
2. Flight attendant Sandra Bradshaw called the maintenance facility at 9:35 reporting that the flight had been hijacked by men with knives who were in the cabin and flight deck and had stabbed another flight attendant. At 9:50 she called her husband and told him she was preparing scalding water to throw at the hijackers. Her call ended at 9:55 with, “Everyone is running up to first class. I’ve got to go. Bye.”
3. Passenger Lauren Grandcolas left a message on her family’s answering machine at 9:39, “Jack, pick up sweetie, can you hear me? Okay. I just want to tell you, there’s a little problem with the plane. I’m fine. I’m totally fine. I just want to tell you how much I love you.”
4. Passenger Mark Bingham called his mother at 9:37 and told her that the plane had been hijacked by three men who claimed to have a bomb.
5. Passenger Jeremy Glick called his wife at 9:37 telling her the flight was hijacked by three dark-skinned Iranian-looking men wearing red bandanas and wielding knives. Glick remained connected until the end of the flight. He reported that the passengers voted whether to “rush” the hijackers. The United air traffic control coordinator for West Coast flights alerted the FAA Herndon Command Center, VA that Flight 93 was off course and not responding. A minute later, the transponder was turned off, but the Cleveland controller continued to monitor the flight on primary radar. The Herndon Center relayed information on Flight 93 to FAA headquarters.
6. Passenger Joseph DeLuca called his father at 9:43 to inform him the flight had been hijacked.
7. Passenger Todd Beamer attempted to call his wife 9:43 but the call was routed to GTE phone operator Lisa D. Jefferson. Beamer told her that the flight was hijacked and the pilots were on the floor dead or dying. He also said that one of the hijackers had a red belt with a bomb strapped to his waist. The final words Lisa heard on her call from Todd were, “Let’s Roll!”
8. Passenger Linda Gronlund called her sister, Elsa Strong, at 09:46 and left a message saying there were men with a bomb aboard the plane
9. Flight attendant CeeCee Lyles called her husband at 9:47 leaving him a message saying the plane had been hijacked.
10. Passenger Marion Britton called her friend, Fred Fiumano at 9:49, crying screaming and yelling, “They’re gonna kill us, you know. We’re gonna die.”
11. Passenger Honor Elizabeth Wainio who called her stepmother at 9:53. She ended the call 4-1/2 minutes later with, “I have to go. They’re breaking into the cockpit. I love you.”
12. Passenger Edward Felt, in the plane’s lavatory, dialed 911 on his cell phone at 9:54. Dispatcher John Shaw answered the call and was told that the plane was being hijacked. Shortly thereafter the call was disconnected.

The revolt on Flight 93 began at 9:57. The cockpit voice recorder captured the sounds of crashing, screaming, and the shattering of glass at 10:00. Five seconds later a passenger was overheard in the background shouting, “In the cockpit! If we don’t, we’ll die!” Sixteen seconds later, another passenger yelled, “Roll it!” Amidst the sounds of the passenger counterattack, the aircraft plowed into a reclaimed coal strip mine near Shanksville, PA at 10:03, about 20 minutes away from Washington, DC.

All passengers and crew on board Flight 93 were nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal on September 19, 2001, however the these awards have yet to be granted. Beamer’s final words, “Let’s roll”, became a national catchphrase. The Port Authority of NY and NJ changed the name of the Newark airport from Newark International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport.

On August 25, 2008, hundreds of New York City firefighters donated and installed a cross made of steel from the World Trade Center. The beam is mounted atop a platform shaped like the Pentagon. It was erected outside the firehouse of the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department‎. Crash Site of Flight 93 Gets WTC Beam.

A permanent memorial is planned for construction on the crash site and is scheduled to begin early in 2009 once all 2,200 acres have been acquired. Completion and dedication is scheduled for 2011. *"Flight 93 National Memorial.":http://www.nps.gov/flni/upload/Paul%20Murdoch%20Presentation—for%20screen%202.pdf

God Bless America and Her Brave Citizens and Soldiers.*

Peace Out, Pad
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