TRIP REPORTS ARCHIVE  

11th September 2001 : A first hand account from New York
by Sean Mendis  

EDITORIAL NOTE : The following piece was written on the evening of 11th September 2001 and has not been modified. September 10, 2001 1400 : Call Delta Air Lines to check on my flights for the next day. At 9am, I am scheduled to fly from NYC to SFO through MCO to keep the fares down. I am informed that my MCO-ATL flight has been downgraded from a 777 to a 738 and is now horribly oversold. They offer to protect me on the United nonstop instead. I decline their offer, choosing instead to stay with Delta. The flight offered was UA 93. September 11, 2001 0615 : Wake up call in the Hotel Pennsylvania. 0715 : Aboard NJ Transit train from Pennsylvania Station New York to Newark Penn Station. 0740 : Grab a quick breakfast at McDonalds in the station and board the #302 Airlink bus. 0800 : Pull in to Terminal A at Newark just as a United Airlines Boeing 757, N591UA, is taxiing out to the runway for its flight to San Francisco. 0815 : Take the monorail across to Terminal B and check in for Delta Express 2475 to Orlando. 0840 : Boarding commences on Delta 2475. I relax in my seat and look out over the New York skyline. Little did I realize that this tranquil scene would never be the same again. 0852 : Doors close and we push back off the gate. As the safety demo is being performed, I look out and see some smoke above the World Trade Center. No big deal, we'll soon be out of here. 0901 : Flight attendants, prepare the cabin for takeoff. Push back from the gate. 0903 : Looking out of the window towards the World Trade Center. The smoke seems thicker. 0904 : HOLY SHIT! The side of the World Trade Center has just exploded in a ball of fire. 0905 : Captain comes over the PA system. Im sure you folks just saw what I saw. I'd say we aren't going anywhere for a while. 0925 : Back at the gate. Walk up and talk to the captain through the cockpit door. One flight attendant is sobbing in the corner of the galley. 0930 : Call SMS and try to rebook through Philly. All New York area airports are shut down, but others are still running. 0937 : SMS succesfully rebooks me out of Philly. 0940 : Nationwide ground stop announced. 0945 : Start calling around to check if everyone is ok. 0955 : US Marshals and PANYNJ Police with M16s and shotguns begin evacuating the terminals. 1000 : Board NJ Transit bus #302 to Newark Penn Station. The driver is gouging passengers who don't have exact change. 1002 : Bus is on the road. There are two towers still standing amid the smoke. 1010 : Bus is on a bridge. There is one tower that we can still see standing amid the smoke. Must be the angle. 1030 : Bus is on another bridge. Hey guys, can anyone see the towers? Oh my GOD! 1100 : Arrive at Newark Penn Station. Pandemonium and chaos. 1110 : Get myself on the waiting list for a room at the Hilton Gateway Newark. Maybe Gold VIP loyalty will count for something. 1130 : Get online from the business center. Send mass emails and log on to AOL Instant Messenger. 1145 : Get an Instant Message from Liz. She says she brought the UA 757 in from SFO-EWR last night. What UA 757 from EWR? I thought it was a 767 from BOS? Flight 93 that went down near PIT. HOLY SHIT! That could have been me! 1215 : Go over to the station and ask if they need any volunteers. Not yet, but maybe later. 1315 : Lunch at Taco Bell. 1430 : Back online for a bit. Plenty of emails to answer. Friend in WTC was safe. Friend in midtown is safe. Dad in midtown no word yet, but its midtown so I'll assume he's safe. 1530 : Phonecalls, emails and waiting for the waitlist to clear. Lobby is a warzone. Everyone is refugee here. They are bringing across lightly wounded folks from downtown and setting up triage in the train station. 1610 : You can check in now. Hilton has delivered in style. Concierge Level room. God bless Hilton. 1630 : Go out to Newark Penn Station and find the NJT Lieutenant I had spoken to last time. Yes, they want volunteers for the triage station. Well, I'm a trained first responder. You're hired. 1730 : We got a 911 call anonymous. Possible bomb in the station. EVERYONE OUT! NOW! NOW! NOW! 1800 : False alarm, everyone back. 1810 : Thanks for your help, but its under control now. We've got your room number in case we need more vols later. 1830 : Back in the room. Phonecalls. 1900 : Downstairs. Drinks at the bar. Business center internet. Hilton has arranged buses to shuttle people without rooms to remote Hilton locations. God bless Hilton. 2015 : Order dinner at bar. 2030 : Sip on Sam Adams as George W. Bush addresses the nation. 2130 : Back to the room. Hilton has delivered turndown service. I almost cry. Thank you Hilton. 2200 : Back downstairs in the business center. I have to be around people. What a day. What a day. See "The Return From New York" as a sequel to this story.