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Report: Passengers on Flight 93 Did Not Bring Down Plane
Aired August 08, 2003 - 15:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with another look at the tragedy surrounding United Airlines Flight 93. On September 11, it was believed passengers bravely stormed the hijacked plane, causing it to crash into a field in Pennsylvania. But now the FBI's director is casting a shadow of doubt on that story.
Here's CNN's David Mattingly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shortly after three other hijacked flights on 9/11 reached their targets in New York and Washington, D.C., United Flight 93 crashed to the edge of an open field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The shattering impact and fireball killed everyone on board, the 33 passengers, seven crew members and the four hijackers.
And now, according to FBI Director Robert Mueller, the cockpit voice recorder reveals clues the plane could have been crashed deliberately.
According to a report released by Congress last month, Mueller told the Congressional 9/11 Committee that one hijacker, just minutes before the plane hit the ground, advised another hijacker, Ziad Jarrah, who was believed to be at the controls, to crash the plane and end the passengers' attempt to retake the airplane.
Heart-wrenching phone calls from on board told of a passenger revolt in the works. Todd Beamer's stirring last words of "let's roll" signaled an attempt to take back the plane. Crashing just minutes from Washington, it's believed their courage prevented the plane from reaching its target.
TOM RIDGE, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: There was some dispute as to whether it was the White House or the U.S. Capitol. And I don't think we'll ever know.
MATTINGLY: Seven months after the attack, the FBI allowed Flight 93 family members to listen to the cockpit voice recordings and the disturbing sounds of what appear to be a life and death struggle.
Shouting was heard in English and Arabic along with breaking glass and other noises. But there was no clear indication if the passengers themselves were able to reach the controls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The cockpit voice recording does, indeed, confirm that our loved ones died heroes.
MATTINGLY: This new information that the plane could have crashed deliberately by the hijackers came to light after the recording was enhanced and analyzed by pilots, engineers and other professionals. But the FBI wants to make it clear, this is just one theory, and there's still no way of knowing exactly what caused Flight 93 to go down.
David Mattingly, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 8, 2003 - 15:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with another look at the tragedy surrounding United Airlines Flight 93. On September 11, it was believed passengers bravely stormed the hijacked plane, causing it to crash into a field in Pennsylvania. But now the FBI's director is casting a shadow of doubt on that story.
Here's CNN's David Mattingly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shortly after three other hijacked flights on 9/11 reached their targets in New York and Washington, D.C., United Flight 93 crashed to the edge of an open field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The shattering impact and fireball killed everyone on board, the 33 passengers, seven crew members and the four hijackers.
And now, according to FBI Director Robert Mueller, the cockpit voice recorder reveals clues the plane could have been crashed deliberately.
According to a report released by Congress last month, Mueller told the Congressional 9/11 Committee that one hijacker, just minutes before the plane hit the ground, advised another hijacker, Ziad Jarrah, who was believed to be at the controls, to crash the plane and end the passengers' attempt to retake the airplane.
Heart-wrenching phone calls from on board told of a passenger revolt in the works. Todd Beamer's stirring last words of "let's roll" signaled an attempt to take back the plane. Crashing just minutes from Washington, it's believed their courage prevented the plane from reaching its target.
TOM RIDGE, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: There was some dispute as to whether it was the White House or the U.S. Capitol. And I don't think we'll ever know.
MATTINGLY: Seven months after the attack, the FBI allowed Flight 93 family members to listen to the cockpit voice recordings and the disturbing sounds of what appear to be a life and death struggle.
Shouting was heard in English and Arabic along with breaking glass and other noises. But there was no clear indication if the passengers themselves were able to reach the controls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The cockpit voice recording does, indeed, confirm that our loved ones died heroes.
MATTINGLY: This new information that the plane could have crashed deliberately by the hijackers came to light after the recording was enhanced and analyzed by pilots, engineers and other professionals. But the FBI wants to make it clear, this is just one theory, and there's still no way of knowing exactly what caused Flight 93 to go down.
David Mattingly, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
