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Hello, my name is Mrs. Jefferson," I spoke calmly into the headset. "I understand your plane is being hijacked?"
I couldn't believe I was asking this question during what had started as a typical day on the job as a Verizon Airfone supervisor. Around 8:45 a.m. on September 11, 2001, I walked to the Call Center, where a representative stopped me, clearly traumatized. Apparently the caller on her headset had told her he was on United Airlines Flight 93 bound for San Francisco from Newark—and that their plane had been hijacked.
"I'll finish the call," I told her after I contacted the Airfone Operations Surveillance Center (AOSC) to inform officials a plane had been hijacked. Then I put on her headset.
"Can you tell me exactly what's taking place?" I asked the caller.
"Three people have hijacked the plane," he calmly replied. "Two have taken over the cockpit and are flying the plane."
At our office, I overheard someone say, "These are suicide attempts; they're intentionally taking those planes down!" Then I learned two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center Towers.
Fear rose in me. I prayed silently, not knowing what to ask God as I realized this hijacking was linked to the New York tragedy.
"I've notified all appropriate authorities," I told the caller, and finally asked his name.
"I'm Todd Beamer from Cranbury, New Jersey," he said. As we exchanged small talk, the plane began flying erratically. Todd raised his voice, then I heard raw panic: "Oh my God, we're going down! Jesus help us!"
Spiritually, I remained calm; I knew God was with me and with Todd. But physically, I felt ill and powerless; I wanted to do more to help. I prayed silently as I heard profoundly disturbing sounds coming from the plane's cabin. I finally realized they were the bloodcurdling screams of the passengers aboard Flight 93 crying out for their lives. I'll carry those sounds to my grave.
When things calmed down, Todd returned to the phone. "I think we're OK now," he said. Then he asked me to say the Lord's Prayer with him.
Final Moments"If I don't make it through this, would you tell my wife and family how much I love them?" Todd asked.
"Of course I'll do that for you, Todd," I replied, and offered to patch her through on another line.
"No," he replied. "She's expecting our third child in January, and I'd rather not upset her with any bad news."
Suddenly Todd blurted, "Oh my God, we're turning around!"
After some confusion, I told him, "I'm still here, Todd, and I'll be on this phone as long as you are."
After another silence, he said, "A few of us are going to jump the guy with the bomb." At this point, we both hoped the plane could land without incident.
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