My first and last was slightly different, but truly a first and last. I was a 737-800 captain based in NYC, living in Georgia. I was a little short on flying time for the month, so I requested to fly an out-of-base trip in Atlanta. On 9/10, I was called and offered a “simple” Tampa turn—ATL to TPA to ATL and be home by dinner. Of course I accepted the trip.

On the morning of 9/11, I awoke and looked at the weather for the southeast United States. The forecast was for very nice weather all day. I decided to drive to the airport without an overnight bag or suitcase. Heck, it was going to be a “simple” Tampa turn.
As the crew assembled on the airplane prior to boarding, I remember thinking, “well at least I’m not alone, my F/O and two of the four FAs didn’t bring overnight bags either.” I knew it was going to be a “simple” Tampa turn.

The flight was a “normal” flight until we were about 150 nm north of TPA. Somewhere during that phase of flight, ATC started asking us if we had heard about the “event” and what our intentions were. I looked at Troy (my F/O, Troy Simpson, a name and face I won’t forget) and asked him if he had any idea what ATC was talking about. We sent an ACARS message to our company asking for some type of clarification. The only response we got was to standby for info. ATC asked us a few times about the “event” and what our intentions were. We finally told ATC that we hadn’t received any information from our company and we didn’t have any idea what they were talking about in reference to the “event.” ATC finally told us that an airplane hit the World Trade Center, and when we landed at Tampa we could expect to be on the ground for a while. I called the “A-line” to the cockpit and related the information (however sketchy it was) to her. Remember the “good old days”—no protracted cockpit entry procedures? The question all three of us had was “what and how did an airplane hit the World Trade Center?” Our assumption was marginal weather on a River visual to LGA and somehow a mistake occurred. Our next thought was what was meant by “awhile” as two-thirds of us didn’t have any overnight clothes.

After we landed, Tampa operations told us to come downstairs to Operations and they would talk to us. When we entered operations, we saw a television broadcasting the news from NYC and realized the weather was severe clear and saw that ever-ingrained image of one of the towers streaming a column of black smoke. After a short time in Operations, we were told that all flight operations were cancelled for an indeterminate period. Needless to say, a lot of questions were being asked with a very little amount of information available. When the second plane hit the second tower, we knew something bad, very bad, was happening. Very shortly thereafter, we were told that flight operations were cancelled indefinitely and we were sent to the hotel.

We got on the hotel van and proceeded to the layover hotel. As four of us didn’t have any toiletries, we were able to get distress kits from the hotel staff. We were told that we would be there for at least one night and we decided to go to the local mall to buy some clothes, etc. Things became really eerie as when we entered the mall, stores began closing. We were hearing stories about the multiple attacks against the United States. We were in disbelief as here was a mall shutting its doors before noon on a weekday. Suddenly we were involved in a speed-shopping trip to buy clothes, not knowing how long we would be there. We were also trying to win the competition—yes, there was to be a fashion show at the restaurant that night to see who was able to buy an outfit for the lowest price. At least we were able to have a little laugh during this very trying time. Thank goodness Old Navy stayed open long enough for us to shop. (And I didn’t win the competition—one of the FAs looked really good for all of $18.)

The days in Tampa were filled with lots of questions and not a lot of answers. The wait ended for us after two days as Flight Operations contacted us to fly our airplane back to Atlanta. Here was another first for me—I was in the first Delta airplane airborne after September 11.

The ordeal of getting to the jet was amazing. We arrived at a completely empty airport, flight kits in hand, with a plastic shopping bag filled with our Old Navy treasures. We were provided an armed military escort to the security checkpoint where Troy and I were searched. And searched. And searched. After passing through the metal detector, another armed military guard escorted us to our airplane. The jetway was not against the airplane and the doors were closed. We were told that the door would be opened, the jetway moved for us to get on board, and then the jetway removed, door closed, and we would be ready to push. I informed them (the Operations representative and the armed guard) that a walk-around preflight needed to be accomplished. They were not happy with this, but allowed it. As soon as Troy came up the jetway, the aircraft door was closed and the jetway was removed. As we finished our preflight duties, we were queried by ground control and clearance delivery as to how many souls were on board. We were asked at least four times to confirm that there were only two souls on board. We finally taxied and were able to take off for Atlanta.

The flight to Atlanta was uneventful, but the strangest flight of my Delta career. The radios were completely quiet. We flew from Tampa to Atlanta in complete silence. No chatter, no background radio calls, no nothing! It was completely surreal. One small chuckle we had heading north was the fact that ATC would not clear us direct to a fix on the arrival. We knew we were the only commercial jet airborne—it just seemed rather funny at the time.

As we were taxiing to the gate in Atlanta (hey, no delay in getting a gate!) Operations called and asked me to stop by the Chief Pilot’s Office on my arrival. We parked the jet and I walked into the CPO. The office staff had lots of questions about what was happening at the outstations, but asked me to wait a minute as a conference call was beginning. I was invited to sit-in as my input might be helpful. Shortly after the call began, it was announced over the phone that the first jet was airborne from Tampa back to Atlanta. I blurted out: “wrong,” and a voice said “who said that?” I introduced myself as the captain of the flight from Tampa to Atlanta, now sitting in the ATL CPO, and the voice announced to all that the first airplane had landed from Tampa to Atlanta. The CPO staff asked me a few questions, mostly about the concerns of the employees stranded away from home. All in all, a “simple” Tampa turn that I will never forget.

It was a first for me—first flight without a suitcase, first flight being stranded for several days, and first flight after the 9/11 event. It was also a lot of lasts for me—last flight without a suitcase, last flight without onerous security procedures, and last flight without the amazing loss of life and terrorist threats always hanging over the United States.

Thanks for reading.

Captain Jack Casey, Delta