NEADS Crew Commander
to NEADS Battle Commander
September 11,
2001
9:21-9:23 AM:
The NEADS technician who took this call from the FAA immediately
passed the word to the Mission Crew Commander. He reported
to the NEADS Battle Commander:
MISSION CREW COMMANDER, NEADS: Okay, uh, American Airlines is still airborne. Eleven, the first guy, he's heading towards Washington. Okay? I think we need to scramble Langley right now. And I'm gonna take the fighters from Otis, try to chase this guy down if I can find him.
The Mission Crew Commander at NEADS issued an order at 9:23 a.m.: "Okay scramble Langley. Head them towards the Washington area." That order was processed and transmitted to Langley Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m., and radar data show the Langley fighters were airborne at 9:30 a.m.