When my son lived in New Orleans, we decided to spend Christmas there. It was part of our goal to immerse ourselves in each holiday there. We flew out early on Christmas Day. I have never enjoyed a flight as much as that particular one. Everyone, I mean everyone, was joyous, kind and appreciative of those who were serving them. I don't remember most flights in my travels, but that one has always stayed with me.
We were in Hawaii a number of years ago. At that time the site of the Arizona was closed. I hope to get back there some day.
I was thinking of “Travels With Charlie” too! Great series of stories, great photos. There’s another book waiting to be written (maybe a children’s book) about you and Sophie, Ken. You’re giving her an antidote for her grieving process too.
Safe travels, Ken & Sophie! I hope the democrats nominate and support as good a candidate as (my vision) "Ken Tingley for Congress" to replace Elise. It's your time to follow your soul to where you are meant to be in your next chapter...
I'm grateful that you reminded us of the killings at the Capital Gazette in 2018 during Trump's administration. The message to his minions got through, the press is the "enemy of the people" and Mr. Ferguson's words immediately after the attack ring deeply and true. "We are not the enemy. We are you". There is more to learn about the Pearl Harbor attack than is generally known to the public. I'm glad you pointed out the radar misstep. I bet Sophie had plenty to say when you returned from Hawaii.
This Pearl Harbor radar story seems like deja vu all over again, revisited. Everyone in Air Traffic Control knew something was amiss on the morning of September 11, 2001 almost immediately after a large commercial jet went rogue. BUT, with all the hundreds of billions of dollars the United States has spent in history to detect and defend any attacks on the Homeland, instead of INSTANT EMERGENCY US ALERTS for the Air Force being called up to shoot down those planes ASAP we ended up with 911 in NYC and DC--the worst attack on our country in history. The lesson that should have been learned, but wasn't (going back to Pearl Harbor), is we apparently don't know how to do "reality" attack simulation situations very well (wait for the big cyber attack). Just google but here's the first thing you will see: 8:19 AM – A flight attendant on Flight 11, Betty Ann Ong, alerts ground personnel (Boston) that a hijacking is underway and that the cockpit is unreachable. 8:24 AM. A hijacker on Flight 11 accidentally contacts air traffic control in Boston, alerting them to the attack. 8:37 AM. Boston air traffic control alerts the military, who mobilize the Air National Guard to follow Flight 11. 9:00 AM. A flight attendant on Flight 175 alerts air traffic control that the plane is being hijacked. 9:01–902 AM A manager from the FAA's New York Center tells the Air Traffic Control System Command Center that the situation is escalating and the military needs to be involved. OOPS TOO LATE. 8:46 AM Flight 11 from Boston (that flight attendant radioed in at 8:19 AM then accidentally hijacker called at 8:24 AM alerted ATC tower) this First plane hits World Trade North Tower. 27 MINUTES! ALL AIR FORCE JETS ON THE EAST COAST SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE AIR WITHIN 10 MINUTES TO FOLLOW THE PLANE. I would love to know (and I'm sure it's top secret security clearance stuff) what the early warning system protocol is for a major cyber attack? In January 2018 there was a false alarm sent in Hawaii about a nuclear attack. What could possibly go wrong?
At the time of 9/11 there were issues with communication between the FAA and the AF that definitely contributed to the situation that day. It was a terrible tragedy. From that though, major changes have been made and the AF now can “see” what the FAA sees and communication is instantaneous. I am sensitive to this situation though as my daughter was the identification tech at NEADS that day.
I went to Hawaii in 2015 with my daughter to attend a wedding. I thought it was the worst traffic than I have ever driven in, and I had driven in NYC. Having grown up in Florida I understood the alure of Hawaii with its beautiful backdrop of the mountains and the beach. I have a question about news reporting. What did you think about the reporting of the fake story that Clarissa Ward did for CNN in Syria as she help a notorious torturer escape versus saving a prisoner. I sometimes think that the need to get something out first and not fact checking in today's climate just feeds the narrative of fake news. She was a seasoned reporter with real skills and now she looks like a hack. Do you think it was the higher ups at CNN fault like editors that let her down or the other way that she let them down? I think it is important that folks question the story on both sides and not worry about being first just being right.
While I understand your point and concerns, I feel like in today's world, "if you see something, say something" is becoming more and more important particularly with the out of control school shootings (and more situations). Sometimes a false alarm might be better than "too little too late" so I sort of feel like an "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" I've just written a long comment above about the known (and exact times) of the information that unfolded on 911. I agree that one doesn't want to feed false narratives, but if you look at the exact time the first flight attendant in Boston called in the hijacking (and the fact that a few minutes later the hijacker hit the wrong button in the cockpit to talk to the passengers and ended up confirming the hijacking to ground control) ALL HELL should have broken loose at Boston air traffic control and US Military should have been in the air with orders to be ready to shoot down planes from Boston to DC within minutes. There are numerous air force bases that could have had planes in the air long before that flight hit World Trade Center and all commercial flights in USA should have been on alert for hijacking. Sadly, hindsight is 20/20, but when you look at our history there have been far too many situations where simple emergency protocol and training might have saved lives. Close to 3,000 people died as a result, mostly civilians, billions in real estate was destroyed, etc. I guess my comment is more like "better safe than sorry" but situational analysis should have been instantaneous on 911 given the potential downside.
They might have known a hijacking was in progress, but did they have enough information about what was to come to actually shoot down a plane (or planes)full of people? Prior to 9/11 hijackers diverted planes and made ransom or prisoner release demands. Shooting it down under those circumstances would have been unconscionable.
YES, the airlines staff knew. So I was connected to very high level NYC folks at the time (meaning people who knew the Mayor, POTUS, etc). You have jumped to a conclusion. To clarify, at the moment that the flight attendant from Boston flight reported hijack, then 5 minutes later the terrorist confirmed accidentally the same info, the US fighter jets should have been activated and in the sky regardless of the situation in ready mode awaiting orders. Not sure who you are, but high level military action and high level government decisions operate differently than your suggestion might be thought by civilians. Shoot to kill would only be done when confirmed danger, but they weren't even in ready mode. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost that day, mostly civilians, the greatest single act of terrorism and war EVER on American soil in a single day. All died, because a few key minutes were botched. Just sayin..
I didn’t jump to a conclusion, I just wanted more information! Having fighter planes in the air and ready for anything would have made sense, of course, even if just to escort the hijacked planes to wherever the hijackers wanted to land. I thought you were saying they should have shot the planes down right away, without knowing. But wouldn’t shooting them down, over the vast metropolitan area between Boston and Washington DC have risked many lives on the ground too? I think once the evil plan was conceived, it was going to be awful no matter what. But certainly, they made mistakes and I hope they learned from them.
I read some of the link. Understood, that said, the facts are clear. Boston ATC on the ground got a hijack call from Flight attendant 27 minutes before it hit WTC, hijacker actually accidentally confirmed a few minutes later. The failure in actions and command was significant (not your daughter's fault) but at roughly 8 miles per minute in flight there were numerous bases that could have sent fighter jets up along the east coast in time. Clearly they KNEW there plane was hijacked. It should have been very easy to locate instantly. The other planes from what I've read weren't reported until a little later. As I said, hindsight is 20/20 in another comment, but, seconds count in situations like this. NYC fire and police departments had communication issues with equipment that didn't talk to each other, it was the classic where everything that could go wrong did. I would have been on the 21st floor of 2WTC that day if my apartment in NYC hadn't sold and closed July 31st.
My husband's brother and sister-in-law were on a flight home that morning from Boston to Seattle. They were diverted to Rochester and sat on the tarmac for close to three hours, with no explanation. Finally, my brother-in-law was able to call us. I was the one to inform him about the situation at the World Trade Center.( My nerves were immediately calmed hearing his voice.) Planes were grounded and my relatives rented a car to return to Boston, and scheduled a flight home several days later.
I would have been on the 21st floor of 2 World Trade that day, luckily my co-op apartment sold and closed in NYC on July 31st and I headed to the hills. Sadly I knew people in the building, our floor got out, but most had PTSD and left the city. I'm stunned at some of the comments here, I was relating the failure of triillions in Military Industry, FAA, etc. since Pearl Harbor to the failure of 911. Happy Holidays!
Goose bumps… i have visited Pearl Harbor three times, the last, in 2017 with my husband, on Dec. 6th, no forethought intended, the tents and seats were erected for the festivities the next day, and we sat among the empty seats to listen to the centarian soldier who was there that fateful day, practicing his speech for the next day… a moment i couldn’t have planned, and will never forget.
Safe travels and Godspeed Ken & Sophie-look forward to your notes on the road.
Have a wonderful time Ken & Sophie. Safe travels and enjoy the adventure of seeing the USA!
Bon voyage! “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” - Gustave Flaubert
When my son lived in New Orleans, we decided to spend Christmas there. It was part of our goal to immerse ourselves in each holiday there. We flew out early on Christmas Day. I have never enjoyed a flight as much as that particular one. Everyone, I mean everyone, was joyous, kind and appreciative of those who were serving them. I don't remember most flights in my travels, but that one has always stayed with me.
We were in Hawaii a number of years ago. At that time the site of the Arizona was closed. I hope to get back there some day.
Safe travels.
Great articles, Ken.
Have a spectacular trip!
I see a travelogue Ala Charles kurault in the future.
I was thinking of “Travels With Charlie” too! Great series of stories, great photos. There’s another book waiting to be written (maybe a children’s book) about you and Sophie, Ken. You’re giving her an antidote for her grieving process too.
Safe travels, Ken & Sophie! I hope the democrats nominate and support as good a candidate as (my vision) "Ken Tingley for Congress" to replace Elise. It's your time to follow your soul to where you are meant to be in your next chapter...
I'm grateful that you reminded us of the killings at the Capital Gazette in 2018 during Trump's administration. The message to his minions got through, the press is the "enemy of the people" and Mr. Ferguson's words immediately after the attack ring deeply and true. "We are not the enemy. We are you". There is more to learn about the Pearl Harbor attack than is generally known to the public. I'm glad you pointed out the radar misstep. I bet Sophie had plenty to say when you returned from Hawaii.
She has not left my side.
This Pearl Harbor radar story seems like deja vu all over again, revisited. Everyone in Air Traffic Control knew something was amiss on the morning of September 11, 2001 almost immediately after a large commercial jet went rogue. BUT, with all the hundreds of billions of dollars the United States has spent in history to detect and defend any attacks on the Homeland, instead of INSTANT EMERGENCY US ALERTS for the Air Force being called up to shoot down those planes ASAP we ended up with 911 in NYC and DC--the worst attack on our country in history. The lesson that should have been learned, but wasn't (going back to Pearl Harbor), is we apparently don't know how to do "reality" attack simulation situations very well (wait for the big cyber attack). Just google but here's the first thing you will see: 8:19 AM – A flight attendant on Flight 11, Betty Ann Ong, alerts ground personnel (Boston) that a hijacking is underway and that the cockpit is unreachable. 8:24 AM. A hijacker on Flight 11 accidentally contacts air traffic control in Boston, alerting them to the attack. 8:37 AM. Boston air traffic control alerts the military, who mobilize the Air National Guard to follow Flight 11. 9:00 AM. A flight attendant on Flight 175 alerts air traffic control that the plane is being hijacked. 9:01–902 AM A manager from the FAA's New York Center tells the Air Traffic Control System Command Center that the situation is escalating and the military needs to be involved. OOPS TOO LATE. 8:46 AM Flight 11 from Boston (that flight attendant radioed in at 8:19 AM then accidentally hijacker called at 8:24 AM alerted ATC tower) this First plane hits World Trade North Tower. 27 MINUTES! ALL AIR FORCE JETS ON THE EAST COAST SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE AIR WITHIN 10 MINUTES TO FOLLOW THE PLANE. I would love to know (and I'm sure it's top secret security clearance stuff) what the early warning system protocol is for a major cyber attack? In January 2018 there was a false alarm sent in Hawaii about a nuclear attack. What could possibly go wrong?
At the time of 9/11 there were issues with communication between the FAA and the AF that definitely contributed to the situation that day. It was a terrible tragedy. From that though, major changes have been made and the AF now can “see” what the FAA sees and communication is instantaneous. I am sensitive to this situation though as my daughter was the identification tech at NEADS that day.
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1955624/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-our-air-defense-on-911/
I went to Hawaii in 2015 with my daughter to attend a wedding. I thought it was the worst traffic than I have ever driven in, and I had driven in NYC. Having grown up in Florida I understood the alure of Hawaii with its beautiful backdrop of the mountains and the beach. I have a question about news reporting. What did you think about the reporting of the fake story that Clarissa Ward did for CNN in Syria as she help a notorious torturer escape versus saving a prisoner. I sometimes think that the need to get something out first and not fact checking in today's climate just feeds the narrative of fake news. She was a seasoned reporter with real skills and now she looks like a hack. Do you think it was the higher ups at CNN fault like editors that let her down or the other way that she let them down? I think it is important that folks question the story on both sides and not worry about being first just being right.
While I understand your point and concerns, I feel like in today's world, "if you see something, say something" is becoming more and more important particularly with the out of control school shootings (and more situations). Sometimes a false alarm might be better than "too little too late" so I sort of feel like an "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" I've just written a long comment above about the known (and exact times) of the information that unfolded on 911. I agree that one doesn't want to feed false narratives, but if you look at the exact time the first flight attendant in Boston called in the hijacking (and the fact that a few minutes later the hijacker hit the wrong button in the cockpit to talk to the passengers and ended up confirming the hijacking to ground control) ALL HELL should have broken loose at Boston air traffic control and US Military should have been in the air with orders to be ready to shoot down planes from Boston to DC within minutes. There are numerous air force bases that could have had planes in the air long before that flight hit World Trade Center and all commercial flights in USA should have been on alert for hijacking. Sadly, hindsight is 20/20, but when you look at our history there have been far too many situations where simple emergency protocol and training might have saved lives. Close to 3,000 people died as a result, mostly civilians, billions in real estate was destroyed, etc. I guess my comment is more like "better safe than sorry" but situational analysis should have been instantaneous on 911 given the potential downside.
They might have known a hijacking was in progress, but did they have enough information about what was to come to actually shoot down a plane (or planes)full of people? Prior to 9/11 hijackers diverted planes and made ransom or prisoner release demands. Shooting it down under those circumstances would have been unconscionable.
YES, the airlines staff knew. So I was connected to very high level NYC folks at the time (meaning people who knew the Mayor, POTUS, etc). You have jumped to a conclusion. To clarify, at the moment that the flight attendant from Boston flight reported hijack, then 5 minutes later the terrorist confirmed accidentally the same info, the US fighter jets should have been activated and in the sky regardless of the situation in ready mode awaiting orders. Not sure who you are, but high level military action and high level government decisions operate differently than your suggestion might be thought by civilians. Shoot to kill would only be done when confirmed danger, but they weren't even in ready mode. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost that day, mostly civilians, the greatest single act of terrorism and war EVER on American soil in a single day. All died, because a few key minutes were botched. Just sayin..
I didn’t jump to a conclusion, I just wanted more information! Having fighter planes in the air and ready for anything would have made sense, of course, even if just to escort the hijacked planes to wherever the hijackers wanted to land. I thought you were saying they should have shot the planes down right away, without knowing. But wouldn’t shooting them down, over the vast metropolitan area between Boston and Washington DC have risked many lives on the ground too? I think once the evil plan was conceived, it was going to be awful no matter what. But certainly, they made mistakes and I hope they learned from them.
Hindsight is always 20-20. To shoot down a commerical American airliner would have been unprecedented.
My advice is to stay away from Honolulu. It’s just a city with a beach. The rest of Hawaii has so much more to offer.
Agree..We stayed on the other side of the island and only came back to go to the airport to go home.
How different it might have been had they taken heed of the sightings. I had never heard about that. Thanks for the history lesson.
I read some of the link. Understood, that said, the facts are clear. Boston ATC on the ground got a hijack call from Flight attendant 27 minutes before it hit WTC, hijacker actually accidentally confirmed a few minutes later. The failure in actions and command was significant (not your daughter's fault) but at roughly 8 miles per minute in flight there were numerous bases that could have sent fighter jets up along the east coast in time. Clearly they KNEW there plane was hijacked. It should have been very easy to locate instantly. The other planes from what I've read weren't reported until a little later. As I said, hindsight is 20/20 in another comment, but, seconds count in situations like this. NYC fire and police departments had communication issues with equipment that didn't talk to each other, it was the classic where everything that could go wrong did. I would have been on the 21st floor of 2WTC that day if my apartment in NYC hadn't sold and closed July 31st.
My husband's brother and sister-in-law were on a flight home that morning from Boston to Seattle. They were diverted to Rochester and sat on the tarmac for close to three hours, with no explanation. Finally, my brother-in-law was able to call us. I was the one to inform him about the situation at the World Trade Center.( My nerves were immediately calmed hearing his voice.) Planes were grounded and my relatives rented a car to return to Boston, and scheduled a flight home several days later.
I would have been on the 21st floor of 2 World Trade that day, luckily my co-op apartment sold and closed in NYC on July 31st and I headed to the hills. Sadly I knew people in the building, our floor got out, but most had PTSD and left the city. I'm stunned at some of the comments here, I was relating the failure of triillions in Military Industry, FAA, etc. since Pearl Harbor to the failure of 911. Happy Holidays!
...the Opana Radar story figured prominently in the [1970] movie, "Tora! Tora! Tora!"...
Goose bumps… i have visited Pearl Harbor three times, the last, in 2017 with my husband, on Dec. 6th, no forethought intended, the tents and seats were erected for the festivities the next day, and we sat among the empty seats to listen to the centarian soldier who was there that fateful day, practicing his speech for the next day… a moment i couldn’t have planned, and will never forget.