9/11 Commission Hears Flight Attendant's Call

[Bolo Boffin]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/27/911.commis.call/index.html

While family members wept in the audience, four minutes of Ong's 23-minute phone call was played Tuesday during a hearing held by the Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 commission.

Nydia Gonzalez, who was on the receiving end of the call, also fought her emotions as she described the call, which came in at about 8:20 that Tuesday morning.

"Several media accounts of what occurred on Flight 11 claim that Betty was 'hysterical with fear,' 'shrieking' and 'gasping for air,' Gonzalez testified. "I am here to tell this commission that those accounts are wrong.

"Betty was calm, professional and in control throughout the call. I honestly believe, after my conversation with Betty, that the 81 passengers and nine crewmembers on Flight 11 had no idea of the fate they were to encounter that day."

[RobertSeattle]

1. Sounds like they had no clue what was going on

In a wierd way it was a good thing not knowing the plane was about to be plowed into the WTC. The paradigm per 9/11 was hijackers would just fly the plane to an airport and then negotiate.

[Valjean]

2. WOW ...

The Mac thing is definitely news. This means the screeners need to check for a critical item ... GAS MASKS!!!!

[Name removed]

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[DulceDecorum]

6. Who was in the jump seat?

http://www.airplanes.com/forums/printthread.php3?threadid=479

[Bolo Boffin]

7. I believe I heard someone testify that the jump seats were empty.

This was on the NewsHour tonight. They don't have the transcript up right now. But the eventual link will be found on this page (last week of January 2004 only):

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/newshour_index.html

When they archive, I'll bring that link back.