Delta 1989: A timeline of "a red herring" and unanswered questions

[John Doe II]

The Delta 1989 made an emergency landing at Cleveland on 911.
Woody Box dealt in a very interesting article on the “Cleveland Airport Mystery”. Especially concerning all the contradicting accounts of the landing of Delta etc his article is essential reading.
http://inn.globalfreepress.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=323

Not much is known about this flight that Colonel Scott called in his testimony “a red herring”.
Time to change this as there are still many unanswered questions.

8 :05 Delta 1989 pushes back from the gate at Boston Logan Airport.

8:25 Delta 1989 takes off (two minutes after UA 175).

Shortly after 9 :03 “FBI agents called an air traffic facility in Ohio that was tracking Flight 1989. Watch what the Delta flight does, agents told controllers at Cleveland Center. Controllers there had already been watching. Like the FBI, they realized that the Delta flight had taken off from Boston just minutes after American Flight 11 and United Flight 175 — the two jets that crashed into the Trade Center towers. The similarities didn't end there.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

9 :15 “Aboard Delta Flight 1989, Capt. Paul Werner learns of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks from his cockpit radio.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

9 :28 UA 93 : The attack of the hijackers begins. “While travelling 35,000 feet above eastern Ohio, United 93 suddenly dropped 700 feet. Eleven seconds in the descent, the FAA’s air traffic control center received the first of two radio transmissions from the aircraft. During the first broadcast, the captain or first officer could be heard declaring “Mayday” amid the sound of physical struggle in the cockpit. The second radio transmission, 35 seconds later, indicated that the fight was continuing. The captain or first officer could be heard shouting: “Hey, get out of here – get out of here – get out of here.” (CR, 11)

Delta 1989: “Now about 9:30 a.m., controllers hear words that seem to confirm their worst fears. They hear shouting as Flight 1989 approaches the Ohio border. Then they hear a voice: "Get out of there!" Then what sounds like a scuffle.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

My comment: This is exactly the same sounds as for UA 93.
MercutioATC pointed out to me that a controller has no possibility to figure out from which plane a sound was coming. That’s why controllers always asks the planes to identify. So this can explain the mix up of UA and Delta at this moment.

My question: Why did the controller never asked Delta if it had a problem. After the sounds he only tried to contact UA 93 not Delta 1989. From the controller’s behaviour it seems clear to me that he has no doubt that UA 93 has a problem not Delta.
http://www.thememoryhole.org/911/flight93-air-traffic.htm
MercutioATC, maybe I mix up things here. Corrections always appreciated!


At first, they wondered if the struggle was coming from Delta 1989.
"The controller asks the transmission to repeat itself, not knowing exactly what you had heard," Kettell said. "We finally were able to deduce... (which one) was the airplane not talking to us. That was Flight 93."
(Akron Beacon Journal, 8/14/02)

"After the second struggle, we were pretty sure we had a problem on Flight 93, but we were also still watching Flight 1989," he said.
(Akron Beacon Journal, 8/14/02)

O'BRIEN: At first, they suspected it was Delta 1989.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0209/08/sm.09.html


9 :32 UA 93 : Jarrah’s announcement : « Ladies and Gentlemen: Here the captain,
please sit down keep remaining sitting. We have a bomb on board. So, sit.” (CR, 12)

Delta 1989: “Minutes later, a new voice, this one with a heavy accent: "Ladies and gentlemen, here it's the captain. Please sit down. Keep remaining sitting. We have a bomb aboard."
No one who hears those words believes they are coming from Werner. Not with such a heavy accent. No way. Rather, the transmission seems to be from a hijacker who unwittingly spoke over the radio when he meant to address passengers.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

My comment: This are exactly the same sounds and words as from UA 93.

9:34 UA 93: Herndon Command Center advises FAA headquarters that UA 93 is hijacked. (CR, 33)

“Officials at Cleveland Center rush word to Washington: Hijackers have another flight.
At the Federal Aviation Administration's command center in Herndon, Va., Delta Flight 1989 joins a growing list of suspicious jets.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

My comment: This two statements clearly contradict each other

9 :36 Controllers order Delta to go away from UA 93 :
Controller #3: (From tape) Delta 1989, that traffic for you is 11 o'clock and 15 miles southbound 41, climbing, looks like he's turning east, flight heading 3-6-zero.
(ABC, 11/15/01)

“When controllers ordered Werner to change course to avoid Flight 93, he had complied quickly. Yes, Delta Flight 1989 must be fine.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

“Cleveland Center asked Command Center specifically whether someone had requested the military to launch fighter aircraft to intercept United 93.”
http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing12/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-06-17.htm

9:39 UA 93: “FAA’s Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center overheard a second announcement indicating that there was a bomb on board, that the plane was returning to the airport, and that they should remain seated.” (CR, 12)

My comment: I didn’t find any account that also the second announcement was believed to have come from Delta 1989. Therefore the 9:39 announcement once again stressed the fact that UA 93 was hijacked and not Delta 1989.
Until here it seems clear to me that the controller was clear that only UA had trouble. But ….

Before 9:41 Colonel Scott: “FAA reports that Delta 89, which had been reported as missing, is now reported as a possible hijacking.”
http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing2/9-11Commission_Hearing_2003-05-23.htm

My comment: Delta never switched off its transponder and never changed its flight paths so why on earth could it have been reported missing by the FAA?

9:41 UA 93: Transponder is turned off. (CR, 33)

9:41 Boston Center called NEADS and identified Delta 1989 as a possible hijack.
NEADS warned FAA’s Cleveland Center to watch Delta 1989.
(CR, 28)
The FAA's Herndon Command Center and FAA Headquarters were watching it too.
http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing12/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-06-17.htm

My comment: The transponder of UA 93 is turned off and Delta is assumed to be hijacked???

Time ? “The Delta flight wants to land in Cleveland? And the captain's request comes before he can know that the FAA wants every flight down. On this day, the fact that the pilot requests to be rerouted before he is ordered to land seems suspicious. Why the urgency?
Controllers don't know that Delta officials, also concerned about the flight, have ordered Werner to land in Cleveland. They continue to send messages to Werner. In code, they ask him if all is OK. Yes, he responds time and again. He doesn't know why they're so worried.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

9:44 “NORAD briefed the conference on the possible hijacking of Delta Flight 1989.”
http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing12/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-06-17.htm

9:46 “The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Office of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that they were still trying to track down the secretary and vice chairman, and bring them into the conference. The chairman was out of the country.”
http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing12/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-06-17.htm

9:48 “A representative from the underground shelter at the White House asked
if there were any indications of another hijacked aircraft. The NMCC deputy director for operations mentioned the Delta flight and concluded, quote, "that would be the fourth possible hijack."
http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing12/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-06-17.htm

My comment: Not “fith hijack”! Nobody is talking of UA 93!

Before 10:00 (estimation) “And now, preparing for landing, Werner has more important things to worry about. He was too close to Cleveland when he got the order to land. So he loops back, over Michigan, and heads toward the city.
As the jet begins its descent, another message comes through. Busy, Werner fails to respond.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

10:00 As a precaution, the tower at Cleveland Hopkins "went to a minimum staffing level" as the Delta flight landed.

Ms. TAYLOR: They're evacuating the city of Cleveland. They're evacuating the Center as we're all doing all this, too.
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/brokaw2.html

Time unknown “The airport also was evacuated, the mayor said.”
(AP, 9/11/01 g)

“Cleveland police blocked off all entrances to the airport terminal, and bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in to the baggage pickup areas.”
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/ap911.html

One account precises:
“After the plane landed, the airport was closed and bomb-sniffing dogs were brought to baggage pickup areas.”
http://www.wcpo.com/specials/2001/americaattacked/news_local/story24.html

10:10 Delta made an emergency landing in Cleveland.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

“Delta, he (Cleveland FBI Special Agent Robert Hawk) said, told the Federal Aviation Administration there was a problem with the flight.

”Delta spokeswoman Cindi Kurczewski declined comment.”
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/clevelandplain.html

“Cleveland Mayor Michael White said at a news conference this morning that a Boeing 767 out of Boston made an emergency landing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport because of fears a bomb was aboard.”
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/akronbeacon911.html
(NBC, 9/11/01 11:00)
(ABC, 9/11/01 11:00)
(AP, 9/11/01 g)

10:30 “On a remote taxiway at Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Delta Flight 1989 is quarantined.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

Time unknown “A SWAT team and bomb unit were at the scene.”
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/ap911.html

10:45 Delta 1989 made an emergency landing in Cleveland.
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/akronbeacon911.html

“The airport released no information about the plane's intended destination. Normally, planes of this size do not land at Hopkins.”
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/ap911.html

“The plane landed about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday with 78 passengers aboard, airport officials said.”
http://www.wcpo.com/specials/2001/americaattacked/news_local/story24.html

For the contradicting times see Woody Box’s article.

11:00 “In a televised news conference at 11, Mayor Michael R. White first said there was an unconfirmed report that the plane might have been hijacked or was carrying a bomb. But in the middle of the news conference, he reported that it had not been hijacked, and later in the day he said no bomb had been found.
White's office later said that the plane landed as a precaution.
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/clevelandplain.html

Time unknown “Meanwhile, White said a second airplane in distress had passed through Cleveland airspace Tuesday morning before being handed off to Toledo.
Officials at Toledo Express Airport did not immediately have any information about the plane.”
http://www.wcpo.com/specials/2001/americaattacked/news_local/story24.html
(Akron Beacon, 9/11/01)

11:15 Evacuation of the passengers from Delta 1989 begins.
“The 200 passengers were reportedly released from the plane at 11:15 a.m., though White said the pilot was still concerned that a bomb remained.”
(Akron Beacon, 9/11/01)

My comment: Why did the passengers have to stay onboard if there was a bomb suspected? The waiting in fear is confirmed by a passenger’s report.
http://256.com/gray/thoughts/2001/20010912/travel_story.html

12:30 Evacuation of the passengers from Delta 1989 begins.
“For two hours, passengers and crew will stay aboard the jet. Cautiously, federal investigators will talk with Capt. Werner through an open cockpit window. Finally, they will board the flight and interview its passengers and crew.”
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2002/2002-08-13-clear-skies.htm

“The plane sat on airport property between the terminal, the NASA Glenn Research Center and the International Exposition Center for about two hours. About 12:30 p.m. baggage cars and shuttle buses approached the plane. The 69 passengers and nine crew members then walked down a portable staircase and onto the buses, which took them to FAA headquarters nearby.”
http://news.globalfreepress.com/ewing/woodybox/clevelandplain.html


Additional information:
NEADS never lost track of Delta 1989, and even ordered fighter aircraft from Ohio and Michigan to intercept it. The flight never turned off its transponder.
NEADS soon learned that the aircraft was not hijacked, and tracked Delta 1989 as it reversed course over Toledeo, headed east, and landed in Cleveland. (CR, 28)
Therefore we can also conclude that Delta 1989 didn’t divert from its flight path until being over Toledo.

My comment: Why is Delta the only flight where apparently the air defence worked?

Several evacuations are surrounding UA 93 and Delta 1989:
“Later that tense day, after most planes had landed, Oberlin police warned the center of a small plane still flying and headed toward the center. That warning resulted in a brief evacuation except for essential employees. Kettell said that plane simply flew past and was never identified.”
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/08/15/loc_sept_11_tension.html

“As a precaution, the tower at Cleveland Hopkins "went to a minimum staffing level" as the Delta flight landed. The plane taxied to a safe area. Passengers remained on the jet for several hours as security officials inspected the plane.
The Pittsburgh FAA facility also was evacuated as Flight 93 approached.
<…>
After the plane crashed, a small aircraft was spotted flying over the city of Oberlin, Kettell said. "I made a decision to evacuate the facility except for a bare minimum staffing," he said. That plane eventually landed at an airport north of Oberlin, he said.”
(Akron Beacon, 8/14/02)


The Commission Report:
“NEADS soon learned that the aircraft was not hijacked, and tracked Delta as it reversed course over Toledo, headed east, and landed in Cleveland”. (CR, 28)
Sounds very simple. But as shown it wasn’t simple.

General questions:
Why does the Commission not mention the bomb that was believed to have been aboard Delta 1989?
Why does the Commission not mention when it was known that Delta 1989 wasn’t hijacked?
Why does the Commission not mention the evacuation of Cleveland tower, airport and city?
Why does the Commission not explain the reason why Delta was believed to have been hijacked?
Why does the Commission not explain why FAA and NORAD seem to have worked perfectly for Delta but not for UA 93?