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A Pilot Recounts His Story Of September 11th
Every person has a story of where they were and what they were doing on September 11th, 2001. It was a tragic day that we all remember and still reflect on each anniversary. Robert Burton was a pilot flying transatlantic on a Boeing 767 inbound to New York’s JFK International Airport. Here is his story: (avgeekery.com) 更多...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I was at the SCCA national autocross (a form of car racing) championships in Topeka Kansas. I saw the planes hit the towers (one taped, one live) but then needed to get to Forbes Field, which was also the base for the Kansas National Guard arial refueling wing, for the race. I was in grid with the race tires on my Miata when the order came through that we had 30 minutes to bug out, including everything in our pit areas. I raced back and tossed everything in the Miata (a tight packing job on the best of days) and headed out on my race tires to a nearby shopping center to pack up and swap back to street tires. Later we found out that not only had the refueling wing (a dozen or so tankers) left but that the reason for our abrupt departure is that Forbes was identified as a possible landing spot for Air Force One! We completed the racing a couple of days later and then I drove back to Seattle which was weird with no planes in the sky and packed vehicles of all shapes and sizes with east coast license plates heading west.
I was a freshman in college. I walked through the student union building and noticed a larger than normal crowd around the big tv. I didn't pay much attention to it, I just wanted to get back to my room.
As I'm sitting there, my roommate comes in saying they blew up the towers. Turned on my TV to see the 2nd plane come in. Ended up going to my buddy's room for the rest of the day as he was from Queens. Just kinda sat around for the rest of the day.
Some years later I was working with a lady who said she was in Norway or Sweeden when it happened (on a business trip) Said she got a vacation out of it. But was rough not being able to come home and know what was going on.
As I'm sitting there, my roommate comes in saying they blew up the towers. Turned on my TV to see the 2nd plane come in. Ended up going to my buddy's room for the rest of the day as he was from Queens. Just kinda sat around for the rest of the day.
Some years later I was working with a lady who said she was in Norway or Sweeden when it happened (on a business trip) Said she got a vacation out of it. But was rough not being able to come home and know what was going on.
I was packing and almost ready to head to SDF for training/meeting for 5X, UPS Airlines. It was still several hours before my flight. I was listening to the radio, NPR, actually when it was announced that a small plane had hit the WTC.
I turned on the TV and saw the smoke and huge hole in the tower. I thought to myself, that's not from a small plane.
Then, I watched the 2nd plane hit, live on TV.
My profession and our world (even on the cargo side) would never be the same.
I turned on the TV and saw the smoke and huge hole in the tower. I thought to myself, that's not from a small plane.
Then, I watched the 2nd plane hit, live on TV.
My profession and our world (even on the cargo side) would never be the same.
True the day lives on in infamy just like JFK’s assassination. I was flying MAN YYZ that morning also on a B767. By the time we arrived at the east coast of Canada Gander informed us the 4 airports CYYT, CYQX, CYYR and CYHZ were already full and that we might choose to land at CYUL or CYOW. After some deliberation I decided to proceed to and land CYYZ our original destination. It seemed we were the aircraft in the sky, very eerie indeed. The RCMP met us and boarded the aircraft before anyone could deplane. That was definitely a point in history that changed each and everyone of us from that point forward. Amen
I was working iin Pharmaceutical company and we wweey in the meeting on that morning. One of our nurse came in a d informed us about the attack on world trade center. We all were shocked andno body say a single word. We will.nevwr forget that day and moment.
I had just woken up to practice the change of command ceremony for the base commander at Travis Air Force Base CA. I was immediately place in Alpha Alert and pre-flighted/sealed my KC-10 tanker. Later that night, my crew and I flew to Denver, CO. to refuel two F-16s from Buckley AFB, CO. We orbited for six hours as the F-16s were protecting the Denver Mint and NORAD. After taking off from Travis AFB, the Oakland, CA. air traffic controller asked us if we wanted direct to Denver...that never happens.