How Did Tommy Know About the Bomb? Unraveling the Mystery of September 11th
On September 11, 2001, the world was shaken by a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on American soil. The attacks, carried out by al-Qaeda, resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and left an indelible mark on global politics and international relations. One of the most intriguing aspects of the attacks is the story of Thomas E. Burnett Jr., a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93, who suspected that the plane was about to be hijacked. But how did Tommy know about the bomb?
Contents
Background: Flight 93 and the Events of 9/11
To understand how Tommy knew about the bomb, it is essential to provide some background information on Flight 93 and the events of September 11th. Flight 93 was a United Airlines Boeing 757 passenger jet that departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 8:42 a.m. bound for San Francisco International Airport. The flight was carrying 44 passengers, including businessman Thomas E. Burnett Jr., and a crew of seven.
As the plane took off, the flight attendants began their security checks, and the passengers settled in for the 5-hour flight. At around 9:20 a.m., the pilot, Jason Dahl, turned off the plane’s automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system, which would have allowed air traffic controllers to track the plane’s location. This unusual move raised concerns among the passengers and some of the crew members, who suspected that something was amiss.
Meanwhile, at the World Trade Center in New York City, two planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, had already crashed into the Twin Towers. As the news of the attacks spread, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 began to suspect that they were in danger.
The Phone Calls and the Discovery of the Hijacking
At around 9:30 a.m., Betty Ong, a flight attendant on Flight 93, made a phone call to the airline’s employee hotline to report the suspicious activity on the plane. Ong’s call was the first indication of a hijacking on board. She told the operator that the plane was being hijacked and that the hijackers were fighting with the passengers.
After Ong’s call, several other passengers made similar calls to their loved ones, including Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Burnett made two phone calls to his wife, Deena, at around 9:45 a.m. In his second call, he told Deena that the plane was being hijacked and that he loved her.
The Discovery of the Hijacking and the Heroic Actions of the Passengers
The phone calls from the passengers and crew members provided conclusive evidence of the hijacking. The passengers quickly realized that they were fighting for their lives and made a collective decision to act. Led by the heroic actions of Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, Jeremy Glick, and Patrick Driscoll, among others, the passengers bravely confronted the hijackers.
The passengers, aided by the crew, made a series of attempts to overpower the hijackers and regain control of the plane. In a climactic moment, the passengers launched a final assault on the hijackers, with some reports suggesting that up to 40 passengers participated in the fight.
The heroic actions of the passengers ultimately led to the crash of the plane into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. The crash site was later determined to have been the result of the passengers’ actions, with the hijackers likely intended to crash the plane into the White House or the U.S. Capitol Building.
Tommy’s Knowledge of the Bomb
So, how did Tommy know about the bomb? According to his calls to his wife, Burnett suspected that the plane was being hijacked and that there was a bomb on board. His exact knowledge of the bomb remains unclear, but it is believed that he may have overheard the hijackers discussing their plans or seen signs of a bomb on the plane.
Burnett’s suspicions were likely corroborated by the actions of the hijackers, who turned off the plane’s transponders and made unusual attempts to communicate with air traffic control. The presence of a bomb would have explained the hijackers’ actions and the passengers’ fears.
The Aftermath and Legacy of Flight 93
The events of September 11th left an indelible mark on American history and the world. The heroic actions of the passengers on Flight 93, including Tommy, have become a symbol of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
The crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, resulted in the deaths of all 40 passengers, including Tommy, and 7 crew members. The crash site has been preserved as the Flight 93 National Memorial, which features a wall of names of the passengers and crew.
The legacy of Flight 93 serves as a reminder of the importance of unity, courage, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Table: Timeline of Events on Flight 93
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:42 a.m. | Flight 93 takes off from Newark International Airport |
| 9:20 a.m. | Pilot Jason Dahl turns off the plane’s ADS-B system |
| 9:30 a.m. | Betty Ong makes the first phone call to the airline’s employee hotline to report the hijacking |
| 9:45 a.m. | Tom Burnett makes his first call to his wife, Deena, to report the hijacking |
| 10:03 a.m. | Flight 93 crashes into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania |
Bullets: Key Points
• The heroic actions of the passengers on Flight 93, including Tommy, have become a symbol of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
• The crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, resulted in the deaths of all 40 passengers and 7 crew members.
• Tommy’s knowledge of the bomb was likely based on overheard conversations or signs of a bomb on the plane.
• The passengers made a collective decision to act and bravely confronted the hijackers.
• The crash site has been preserved as the Flight 93 National Memorial, which features a wall of names of the passengers and crew.
• The legacy of Flight 93 serves as a reminder of the importance of unity, courage, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
