| We departed Anchorage, Alaska, for the all-nighter back to
Salt Lake City in a 767. It was an uneventful evening and we
were the only aircraft with Seattle Center when we were
given a vector direct to Salt Lake City. For whatever
reason, I remember looking at my watch being 7:03 a.m. [PST]
at block in, and up until that time, we had no information
about what had just happened until we arrived downstairs in
the pilot lounge where pilots and flight attendants were
speculating how an airplane could crash into a building on
such a clear day. Then we realized exactly how it happened
as United came barreling into the second tower, in real
time. The room erupted into pandemonium, shock, and
disbelief. Of course, everyone went running for the phones,
and as my wife answered the phone, expecting her “happy
birthday” call, I explained that her birthday might be a
little different from here on out. My next thought? Thanking
God that our plane had not been targeted for the Space
Needle and that these terrorists were averse to
all-nighters. Never forget? How could we?
First Officer Camm Willener, Delta |
