That morning started with getting my husband’s 80-year-old sister on a 6 a.m. direct flight from Great Falls, Mont., (where we lived) back to Orlando, Fla., (where Emma lived – she had been visiting us for two weeks). No TV in our shop with the dangerous equipment, was our rule. The phone starts ringing – it is Emma’s sons immediately shouting “WHERE IS MOM?!!!”
“What?”
“Where is mom? She was to fly out this morning – don’t you know what has happened?!!!”
Total panic on his end because they HAD seen the first tower hit and TV was saying all flights cancelled and more planes “captured by terrorists.” Utter, frantic chaos. I finally got some details. The details were few, many incorrect, disbelief, and still… “Where was mom???”
Had to tell him she was “in the air – Delta” (as far as we knew). More panic. Was she on the missing plane #4? Great Falls is home to Malmstrom Air Force Base, ground zero for the nuclear Minuteman missile bases. More panic. Phones overloaded.
After frantic hours of failed calls, Emma call US to say she was diverted to Salt Lake City (when the orders to pull ALL planes of the grid came). And a “very sweet” stewardess had taken her under her wing, and she was safe at the Delta employee hotel rooms with this “angel” who personally talked to us, gave us a direct line, and reassured us she would not leave her alone until Delta could fly again whenever the TRUE situation was known. Everyday people became heroes that day in many ways, large and small.
Three days later Emma and her stewardess friend disembarked in Florida. Personal relief to us – mixed with disbelief and utter horror.
Judith Sadler
Spring Valley, Minn.