THE HEROES OF FLIGHT 93 AND HOW THEY MAY HAVE FOILED AN ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL
The terrorists used knives and box cutters to commandeer the three airplanes and then crash them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They also indicated that they had bombs. Cell phone calls from the hijacked aircraft indicated that the terrorists, who numbered between three and six on each aircraft, would take control of the aircraft by taking a stewardess or passenger and either threatening, or actually cutting or stabbing them, and then take control of the aircraft when the crew came out to investigate or negotiate. The terrorists then installed their own pilot and herded passengers and crew to the back of the plane.

A fourth jet had also been hijacked, United Airlines Flight 93. Somewhere near Cleveland, OH, this aircraft turned around and headed for Washington, DC. The terrorists indicated they planned to crash it into the capitol building.

On board this aircraft, several passengers heard what was occurring. They had the chance to call their loved ones on cell phones and discover what other aircraft were doing.

Tom Burnett's phone call:

A man named Tom Burnett called his wife in California on his cell phone from the plane. He was the Chief Operating Officer in a small company in Pleasanton, CA. He was the father of three children. Here is what he told his wife (paraphrased).

Our flight has been hijacked. The terrorists have knives and have stabbed someone. They indicate they are going to crash our plane into the capital building in Washington, DC.

I know we're all going to die, but we are going to do something, I love you honey."

Jeremy Glick, traveling on the same flight also called his wife. Jeremy was 6'-2" tall and weighed 220 pounds, he was former college Rugby player and excelled in Judo. Here is what he told his wife (paraphrased):

"Honey, itÍs bad news."

"There are some very bad men are on the plane. The men have a bomb and they have a knife. They are Arabic-looking men. They are wearing red headbands and there are three of them.".

"We've have had no contact with the pilots, but the men have taken over the plane and have moved everyone to the back of the plane and left us here."

"Lyz I need to know something. One of the other passengers has talked to their spouse, and he said that they were crashing other planes into the World Trade Center. Is that true."

[His wife pauses, not knowing what to say, but finally tells him it is true. There is a pause of a few minutes after hearing this.]

"I love Emmy, take care of her. Whatever decisions you make in your life, I need you to be happy, and I will respect any decisions that you make. Now, I need some advice - what to do? Should we, you know, weÍre talking about attacking these men, what should I do?"

[His wife pauses for a long while, but finally tells him she thinks he needs to do it, after which there is another puase for a couple of minutes.]

ñOK, The others and myself have voted to attack the terrorists. I have my butter knife from breakfast.. You know, IÍm going to leave the phone here. Stay on the line, IÍll be back."

[The father in law takes the phone as Jeremy's wife could not bear to listen. There was a few seconds of silence folowed by a scream. More silence followed by another scream ... then ... nothing. Jeremy never came back to the phone.]

One of the women passengers on the plane, Linda Gronlund, was with her boyfriend, Joseph DeLuca. They were flying to California to celebrate Linda's 47th birthday the next day by visiting vineyards. Linda was a lawyer for BMW in Montvale, NJ. She was also a marine chemist, had a brown belt in karate, sailed, was an avid auto mechanic and went scuba diving. From the plane, she called her younger sister, and best friend, Elsa. Here is the paraphrased account of that conversation.

"Elsa, we have been hijacked and we know about the World Trade Center."

"There's not much time. A few of us have voted to do something. They're going to kill us anyway, so we might as well die fighting."

"I need to hurry and tell you where you can find my personal papers ... I don't think I will have any further need of them."

[She then told her sister where those papers were.]

"I love you!"

Another man, Todd Beamer made a call and spoke to a GTE supervisor regarding these same events. In that call, Beamer, 32, an Oracle Inc. executive from Hightstown, N.J, told Lisa Jefferson, that he and others on the plane had decided they would not be a part of the hijackers' plans. Jefferson had informed him about the other hijackings. Beamer made her promise to call his wife and their two boys, David, 3, and Andrew, 1 and let them know he loved them. Beamer's call connected at 9:45 a.m. Here is his paraphrased account.

ñThere are three hijackers, armed with knives. One of the men has what appeares to be a bomb tied to his midsection with a red belt. ñ

"They have moved most of us to the rear and the man with bomb is nearby. The other two are in the cockpit."

Toward the end of his conversation with Jefferson, Beamer said the plane appeared to have changed directions a few times. Beamer became anxious.

"Oh! We're going down!".

[a pause for a few seconds, then in a calmer voice]

"No, we're OK. I think we're turning around."

ñOkay, myself and the others have decided to jump on the hijacker wearing the bomb. I know I'm not going to get out of this.î

[ Shouts and commotion are heard over the phone and then Beamer asked her to pray with him. They recited the 23rd Psalm and the Lord's prayer.]

ñPromise you will call my family.î [The GTE phone supervisor relayed Todd's actions to his wife as they were happening]

[Beamer drops the phone, leaving the line open. The last thing Jefferson heard was Beamer saying:]

"God help me. Jesus help me. Are you ready? Let's roll."

One of the Flight attendants, Sandra Bradshaw, was also involved with the plan to take back the aircraft. Bradshaw, an energetic 38-year-old Greensboro flight attendant, called her husband, Phil, to let him know what was happening. She knew, from other passenger cell phone calls, that their plane was now really a guided missile. Here is the paraphrased dialog they had:

"Have you seen what's happening? Have you heard? We've been hijacked."

"The plane has been taken over by three men with knives. I got a close look at one of them sitting in the back row in first class. He has an Islamic look. They've put most of us in the rear of the plane but are keeping a few in first class. We're all back here getting hot water together and getting ready to take over the plane."

"I love you honey. Let Shenan, Alexandria and Nathan know I love them."

[As they spoke, around Sandy, three men were whispering the 23rd Psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want..." Then one of the men apparently made the call to charge the hijackers.]

"We're all running to first class, I've got to go. Bye."

Due to the heroic efforts of these few brave Americans, or perhaps due to some other cause, that fourth plane never made it to the terrorists intended destination and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of additional lives were spared. In any case, because they did resist and took positive action to fight the terrorists, those passengers are heroes, and represent the true spirit of America when faced with such trials.

A memorial service was held near the site of the crash a few days later. A haystack memorial was set up where those visiting could leave remeberances. Laura Bush, the Fisrt Lady attended with many of the families. The site of the crash should be made a full National Monument in tribute to the courage, determination and bravery of these individuals, and so that all Americans can know of their heroic struggle and sacrifice, and so that we all can remember that liberty has a dear price. A petition to Congress that effect, to establish a National Monument at the Crash site of Flight 93, has been started.

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