Tag Archives: american airlines flight

Arkansas Baptist High School and 9/11 events

September 11, 2011 – 10:04 am
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On September 11, 2001 the junior trip for the Arkansas Baptist High School of Little Rock was at the White House on the front lawn ready to enter the White House at 9:37 am EST when the plane struck the Pentagon just a few miles away. Secret Service ran out of the White House and told all the students to immediately return to the bus. They returned quickly to the bus in a rush because they were told emphatically to leave. While leaving the bus carrying the Arkansas Baptist students went  near the Pentagon and they saw the smoke coming out of the building.
I was on my way in Little Rock to make a delivery to UPS plant next to the Little Rock Airport at 8:03 am CST when I heard on the radio about the second crash in the tower. This sent a cold chill up my spine since I realized that the first crash was not an accident but an attack on our country. Then I noticed  several minutes later that there were lots of planes landing at the Little Rock Airport.
When I returned to the factory, our plant manager Craig Carney was trying to get in touch with his daughter Michelle who was on the tour of the White House he thought. At this same time we were told by the news media that Flight 93 had been taken over by the terrorists and may be headed for the White House.
Finally Craig got a call from his daughter and she filled him in on all the events. Below is a timeline of those events of 9/11

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Wednesday Sep. 7, 2011 5:19 PM ET

On September 11, 2001, the world was shocked as thousands were killed in a horrifying series of terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Here is a breakdown of the events as they unfolded ten years ago.

7:59 a.m. (ET)

76 passengers, 11 crew members and five Al Qaeda hijackers take off on American Airlines Flight 11 (Boston to Los Angeles). The flight will be hi-jacked around 8:14 a.m. and re-routed toward Manhattan.

8:14 a.m.

51 passengers, nine crew members, and five hijackers take off on another Los Angeles-bound United Airlines plane, Flight 175 from Boston. This flight will be hi-jacked around 8:45 a.m. and re-routed toward Manhattan.

8:19 a.m.

Aboard Flight 11, flight attendants Betty Ong and Madeline Amy Sweeney alert ground personnel of the hi-jacking.

8:20 a.m.

American Airlines Flight 77 takes off from Washington, D.C.

8:42 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 93 takes off from Newark, N.J.

8:38 a.m.

Air traffic control notifies the military air defense command of a hijacking.

8:43 a.m.

The FAA notified military authorities of a second hijacking

8:46 a.m.

Flight 11 crashes into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds more within the tower.

8:55 a.m.

Flight 77 begins turning east, away from its intended course.

9:03 a.m.

Flight 175 crashes into the WTC’s South Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds more within the building.

9:37 a.m.

Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, killing the 59 people on board and 125 others in the building.

9:42 a.m.

The FAA grounds all flights over or headed toward the United States.

All international flights headed for the U.S. are redirected to Canada. Transport Canada follows and closes down its airspace. Transport Canada take in diverted U.S.-bound international flights, launching the agency’s “Operation Yellow Ribbon.”

During the procedure, 38 planes will be diverted to Gander, N.L.

9:59 a.m.

The WTC South Tower collapses, killing approximately 600 people.

10:03 a.m.

Flight 93 crashes into a field in Somerset County, near Shanksville, Pa., killing all 40 people on board.

10:15 a.m.

The Pentagon E Ring (the outermost ring of offices) collapses.

10:28 a.m.

The WTC North Tower collapses, killing approximately 1,400 people.

10:43 a.m.

NAV Canada orders a grounding of all flights over Canada.

11:02 a.m.

Lower Manhattan is evacuated.

12:30 p.m.

14 survivors discovered in the WTC North Tower, in stairwell B.

12:28 p.m.

Canadian airspace is closed.

2:54 p.m.

A Korean Air flight lands in Whitehorse – met by armed police – after accidentally signaling a hijacking.

5:20 p.m.

7 World Trade Center (across the street from the twin towers) collapses.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Brian Birdwell:9/11 survivor tells his story

September 11, 2011 – 8:06 am

Brian at Air Force Academy NCLS

I heard the amazing testimony of Brian Birdwell on Friday this week and I thought  I would share it with you.

I am Second – Brian Birdwell

Strength Forged from Fire and Faith
Face the Fire, the ministry started by severely burned 9/11 Pentagon survivor Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell and wife Mel, gives hope and encouragement to burn survivors and their families.Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell was standing about 20 yards away from the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 was deliberately crashed through the outer wall of the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Though horribly burned, Brian survived; but the weeks and months that followed were filled with excruciating pain,operations and endless therapy sessions. Brian and Mel Birdwell lived with the fear and overwhelming stress and sadness burn patient families must endure. Yet, amid the agony and heart-wrenching circumstances surrounding them, the Birdwells discovered life-sustaining hope and meaning in events that were out of their control. They learned about the ultimate miracle of grace.It was this discovery and the knowledge that God wanted them to use their experience to help others that led them to start Face the Fire Ministries. Through their work with Face the Fire, the Birdwells visit burn units and military hospitals across the country, offering comfort to others who are dealing with burns and severe injuries from combat.It is such an honor to go in and visit survivors and their families. They have exactly the same questions we had, and we know what a difference it can make to hear the truth from someone who has experienced what they are going through.They also want to know the answers to tougher questions like, “Will we ever have a normal life again?” We know what it is like to desperately need someone to talk to who has been through what you are going through. It can be such a lifeline,” the Birdwell’s say.

Brian and Mel Birdwell have visited numerous burn centers across the country including the Timothy Harner Burn Center in Lubbock, Texas; the Jaycee Burn Unit at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the Orange County Burn Center in Orlando; the Strong Burn Center in Rochester, New York; Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, the Grossman Burn Center in California, the West Penn Burn Center in Pennsylvania and many others. During the visits, the Birdwells present survivors and their families with a copy of their book, Refined by Fire, and a coin the Birdwells designed and had minted. They also have the privilege  visit with the staff members at each unit, which the Birdwell’s describe as “some of the most dedicated professionals you will find anywhere, with one of the toughest jobs in medicine.”

All donations and proceeds received from the book, Refined by Fire, and from speaking engagements go directly to the ministry. The Birdwell’s receive no compensation from the ministry.  All  funds received are used to help others who are in the midst of a difficult journey.

Face the Fire Ministries has donated to Fisher Houses – facilities similar to Ronald McDonald Houses – on military installations,. These facilities house families who are caring for injured soldiers  As well as establshing a fund through the Child Development Center at Fort Sam Houston, which houses Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), to provide child care for the families of our servicemen and women recovering from their wounds and critical burns.

Face the Fire provides financial assistance to help defray the cost of being displaced from home.
“There aren’t burn units in every hospital, and sometimes it is necessary for families to be hundreds of miles away from home, with no income to support their needs,” Mel says. “Face the Fire helps take care of them while they are caring for their loved one.”

Since its establishment in 2003, Face the Fire has provided over $200,000.00 in assistance to families in need as well.  Each year the ministry makes donations to different burn centers for use as they choose to further improve the recovery of their patients.

Face the Fire Ministries already has helped to make life easier for many burn survivors, wounded servicemen and women and their families. Brian and Mel Birdwell continue to provide comfort and support, both mental and financial, “as Christ has comforted us.”
By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

9/11 Memories:From the Vault: Beauty Beyond the Ashes: Overcoming Circumstances

September 11, 2011 – 12:01 am

From the Vault: Beauty Beyond the Ashes: Overcoming Circumstances

Cheryl’s Story

When I was 16 I met a young man and fell in love.  As I have said on many occasions, Tom was my high school sweetheart. Our relationship blossomed through high school and college.

Tom McGuinnessTom and I married soon after I graduated from college, just knowing that we would live happily ever after. Tom progressed in the Navy as a Top Gun fighter pilot flying F14’s and I advanced in my own career. We were blessed with two wonderful children and it just got better and better.

Tom and I were Bible study leaders. Our family had much joy, peace and contentment and it flowed into all parts of our lives. Everything was fine. I was a normal woman living a very happy life. I never pictured that our dream would suddenly become a nightmare. I never imagined that our peaceful life would be completely shattered.

On September 11th, Tom gave me a kiss goodbye and left for work.  Little did I know that I would never see him again. He was to pilot American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles that day.

As the horror of that day unfolded, I quickly realized that I needed God more than ever before. I was devastated – searching for answers that didn’t exist – terrified at the prospect that Tom would not be coming home.

As I have spoken with people around the country I have come to realize that while my tragedy was in many ways unique to me, many of the feelings – the hurt, the loss, the anger, concern for my family – are shared by so many others. In fact, I dare say that all of us will, unfortunately, at some time in our lives experience what I call time in the pit – that time when you feel absolutely lost, alone, afraid and devastated. It may result from the loss of a loved one, divorce, issues with children, career problems or any of the hundreds of other life issues that we all deal with.

Cheryl and Tom McGuinnessWhat do we do with the pain that results from tragedies in our lives? How do we move beyond them? I have learned how to hope again. Drawing daily from the foundation of faith that Tom and I held together, I have found my footing; He has rebuilt my life.

We have all been impacted by September 11th. Security, peace, safety – things we all took for granted – become casualties of that infamous day. Every life endures saddness and loss. But my story is that no matter what you have experienced or what pain you have suffered, God can bring you through the ashes of destruction to the beauty of life.

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)