Devotions
The Flight That Fought Back
By Rev. Jeff Dixon, Senior Equipping Minister, CCC Ministries
Sep 7, 2005, 14:05

The Flight That Fought Back
Fight Back!

The Passengers and Crew of Flight 93

Christian Adams Lorraine Bay* Todd Beamer Alan Beaven Mark Bingham Deora Bodley Sandra Bradshaw* Marion Britton Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. William Cashman Georgine Rose Corrigan Patricia Cushing Jason Dahl* Joseph DeLuca Patrick "Joe" Driscoll Edward Porter Felt Jane Folger Colleen L. Fraser Andrew Garcia Jeremy Glick

Lauren Grandcolas Wanda Green* Donald F. Greene Linda Gronlund Richard Guadagno LeRoy Homer, Jr.* Toshiya Kuge CeeCee Lyles* Hilda Marcin Waleska Martinez Nicole Carol Miller Louis J. Nacke, II Donald A. Peterson Jean Peterson Mark "Mickey" Rothenberg Christine Snyder John Talignani Honor Elizabeth Wainio Deborah A. Jacobs Welsh* Kristin White-Gould

(crew members indicated by *)

The Flight That Fought Back

The events of September 11, 2001, are forever etched into the hearts and souls of the family members and loved ones of those who died, the nation, and the world. The United States experienced the worst incident of terrorism in its history on That day. The coordinated hijacking of four commercial airliners, the Planned attack on symbolic targets of American democracy, and the murder of innocent people, were all tragic and shocking events.

On that day, two commercial airliners were deliberately flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City while a third plane was flown into the Pentagon. The story of the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was to have a different end. When the terrorists took over the plane, passengers and crew were able to telephone family members, friends and emergency dispatchers to report the hijacking.

Through these conversations, those on board Flight 93 learned about the horrific events unfolding at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon and realized that their plane was also part of the planned attack. This realization led to a collective decision by the passengers and crew to stop the terrorists from achieving their goal. Just after 10:00 a.m., the plane crashed at the edge of a wooded area in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. All 33 passengers and 7 crew members gave their lives, thereby thwarting the planned attack on our nation's capital and saving the lives of countless others.

While the nation mourned the loss of life on that day, the selfless act of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 evoked respect and appreciation from people around the world. In the days and weeks following the tragedy, the nation experienced a rekindled sense of unity, strength, and resolve. Actions of the terrorists, intended to divide and demoralize the nation, had the opposite effect and the crash of Flight 93 became a symbol of courage in the face of adversity and death. Within six months of the tragic event, federal legislation was introduced to create a national monument. Congress acted quickly to approve legislation creating the Flight 93 National Memorial.

The creation of the Flight 93 National Memorial is an historic opportunity to honor the citizen heroes and to propagate their courage. It is a monument to individual citizens who represent the very best of American character and who acted in times of danger, without being asked.

The story of the passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93 is a national treasure—a story of hope in human courage that is worthy to honor, share, and preserve for generations to come.

For information about the National Memorial for Flight 93 please
click the following link
http://www.nationalparks.org/flight93/default.asp

Fight Back was the theme for a Celebration Worship Experience at CCC that once again allowed us to focus on the events of September 11, 2001 and turn toward the future with a sense of confidence and hope.

The footage used in this Celebration Worship event originates with the Discovery Channels production entitled: The Flight That Fought Back.

THE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACK is a minute-by-minute retelling of the plane’s final moments as those on board fought to regain control of the aircraft. This dramatic documentary was developed with unprecedented cooperation from many family members and friends of those on board, and with help from United Airlines.

Using comprehensive research including the 9/11 Commission Report, rarely heard voice recordings, and the personal reflections of family and friends on how their loved ones would have reacted to the situation, THE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACK chronicles how 40 strangers discovered the terrorists’ scheme, devised a plan to respond, and stopped the deadly plot---all in just 30 minutes. The film gives viewers a better understanding of the events on the plane and a deeper appreciation of the diverse group of men and women on board.

The story of Flight 93 had always fascinated me. I admit that there are some who are skeptical of the story, wondering if the media and government were over exagerrating the details of what really happened. I however strongly believe in heroes and that real people can touch the world in heroic ways!

In this film, we finally have a chance to see what happened unfold before our eyes, albeit with some educated guesses regarding the reenactments. What really stands out about this film is the inclusion of the families left behind, as well as many of the recorded conversations they had with their lost loved ones. To be truthful, this film ripped through my heart. I found myself in tears near the end, listening to those last words the passengers had with their familes. As the minutes tick away, and the story unfolds, you feel the tension growing in side of you.

FLIGHT 93 TIMELINE

7:59 a.m.
•American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles takes off.

8:00 a.m.
•At Newark International Airport, United Airlines Flight 93 is scheduled to depart for San Francisco.

•Passenger Mark Bingham calls his partner, Matt Hall, to let him know he made his flight.

8:14 a.m.
•United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles takes off.

8:20 a.m.
•American Airlines Flight 77 from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles takes off.

8:42 a.m.
•United Airlines Flight 93 leaves the ground. Takeoff was delayed because of construction work at Newark and heavy morning runway traffic. At this point, Flight 93 is more than 25 minutes late.

8:46 a.m.
•American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

9:03 a.m.
•United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

9:10 a.m.
•Melodie Homer calls her local United Operations Center in New York and asks them to send a text message to her husband, Leroy, the first officer on Flight 93, to ensure he is okay.

9:22 a.m.
•United Airlines delivers Melodie Homer’s message to Flight 93.

9:24 a.m.
•Flight 93 receives a message from Ed Ballinger, flight dispatcher for United: “Beware of cockpit intrusion.”

9:26 a.m.
•Jason Dahl, pilot of Flight 93, responds to Ballinger’s message: “Ed, confirm latest mssg plz – Jason.”

9:27 a.m.
•Last routine radio communication – Flight 93 acknowledges a transmission from the Cleveland (FAA) Center Controller.

9:28 a.m.
•At approximately this time, hijackers take over Flight 93.

•Passenger Thomas Burnett makes a call to his wife, Deena, at home, and tells her the flight has been hijacked. Deena calls 911 and is connected to the FBI.

9:32 a.m.
•A hijacker, probably Ziad Jarrah, makes an announcement to the passengers of Flight 93 saying there is a bomb on board.

9:34 a.m.
•Thomas Burnett calls his wife a second time and tells her that hijackers are in the cockpit. Deena tells Thomas about the attacks on the World Trade Center.

9:35 a.m.
•Flight 93 begins to reverse direction and starts heading east.

•United Airlines’ maintenance center in San Francisco receives a call from an unnamed flight attendant aboard Flight 93 saying that the flight has been hijacked.

9:37 a.m.
•Passenger Jeremy Glick calls his wife, Lyz, at her parents’ home in the Catskills, and tells her of the hijacking. He says “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”

•Passenger Lauren Grandcolas leaves a message for her husband, Jack, telling him she loves him.

•American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.

9:41 a.m.
•The transponder on Flight 93 is turned off and Cleveland Center loses contact.

9:44 a.m.
•Passenger Mark Bingham calls his mother, Alice Hoglan, who is staying with her brother in California. He tells her that three guys on board said they had a bomb, and that he loves her.

9:45 a.m.
•Passenger Todd Beamer reaches Lisa Jefferson, a GTE/Verizon supervisor in Oak Brook, Ill., by pressing “0” on an airfone. He asks, “If I don’t make it out of this, would you please call my family and let them know how much I love them?”

•Thomas Burnett makes a third call to his wife. He says that he and others are making a plan.

•U.S. airspace is shut down. No civilian aircraft is allowed to take off, and all aircraft in flight are ordered to land at the nearest airport.

•The White House and the Capitol are evacuated.

9:50 a.m.
•Passenger Honor Elizabeth Wainio speaks to her stepmother, Esther Heymann, by phone. Esther tries to comfort her while Elizabeth worries how her brother and sister will take the news.

•Flight Attendant Sandra Bradshaw calls her husband, Phil, who is a pilot.

9:53 a.m.
•Passenger Linda Gronlund makes a call on an airfone to her sister, Elsa Strong, and leaves a message. She says that the passengers are aware of the attacks against the World Trade Center.

9:54 a.m.
•Thomas Burnett makes a fourth call to his wife. He says that he and others have come up with a plan to regain control of the plane over a rural area. He says “It’s up to us, I think we can do it….Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.”

9:57 a.m.
•Todd Beamer ends his conversation with Lisa Jefferson, but the call stays connected, and Lisa hears his statement “Let’s roll.”

•Passengers likely begin attempts to take back control of Flight 93. The cockpit voice recorder captures the sound of a passenger assault muffled by the cockpit door.

9:58 a.m.
•Passenger Edward Felt places a call to a 911 operator in Westmoreland, Pa. It is the only known connected call to emergency services.

•Flight Attendant CeeCee Lyles reaches her husband, Lorne, and they say a prayer together. She tells him she has been boiling water to throw at the hijackers to try and regain control of the plane. She tells him that everyone is running to first class and she has to go.

•Ziad Jarrah, the hijacker pilot, begins to roll the plane to the left and right, attempting to knock passengers off balance.

10:00 a.m.
•At approximately this time, Bill Wright and Holli Joiner are flying in a small plane mapping agricultural land over western Pennsylvania, and are descending in response to Cleveland Center’s orders to land. At about 7,000 feet, they see Flight 93 approximately 1,000 feet above them. They later reported seeing its wings rock back and forth.

•The cockpit voice recorder captures the hijackers discussing when to “…finish it off.” A passenger voice can be heard saying “…in the cockpit. If we don’t we’ll die.” Another yells “Roll it!”

•Three F-16 fighter jets scrambled from Langley Air Force Base in response to earlier attacks arrive over Washington around this time. The pilots are still unaware that Flight 93 has even been hijacked.

10:01 a.m.
•Andrew Garcia makes a call to his wife, Dorothy. He only has time to say “Dorothy” before he is cut off.

10:02 a.m.
•The cockpit voice recorder captures the hijackers saying “Pull it down! Pull it down!” and “Allah is the greatest.”

10:03 a.m.
•Flight 93 crashes into an empty field near Shanksville, Pa.

•Paula Pluta of Stonycreek Township saw the plane crash behind some trees about 1,500 yards from her home. She is the first person to report the crash to emergency services.