Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff
Garrett Graff recounts the events of the day in The Only Plane in the Sky using the voices of the people who experienced them. He creates the most vivid and authentic portrayal of the September 11 attacks to date by drawing on never-before-published transcripts, declassified documents, original interviews, and oral histories from close to 500 government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members.
Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff
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We first meet the ticket agents who unintentionally let terrorists board their flights and the flight attendants on board the hijacked aircraft in the early morning hours of Northeastern airports. First responders in New York face an unthinkable scene of devastation at the Twin Towers. Officials monitor radar for approaching aircraft from a hidden bunker beneath the White House. Pilots of unarmed fighter jets agree to fly into a hijacked aeroplane if required in order to bring it down. Civilians on board United 93 make the ultimate sacrifice in their position over Pennsylvania. Then, as the day goes on and all flights are grounded, Air Force One circles the nation by itself with its passengers feeling alone and fearful.
The Only Plane in the Sky is more than just a collection of eyewitness accounts; it is a historical account of how regular people dealt with extraordinary events in real-time. Examples include the father and son caught at opposite ends of the impact zone, the firefighter looking for his wife who works at the World Trade Center, the person answering in-flight calls who promises to share a passenger’s last words with his family, and the cherished FDNY chaplain who bravely performs his duties.
The Only Plane in the Sky weaves together the unforgettable individual experiences of the men and women who found themselves caught at the centre of an unheard-of human drama, serving at once as a powerful tribute to the bravery of ordinary Americans and as a crucial addition to the literature of 9/11. The end result is an extraordinary, insightful, and piercing investigation into human nature on a day that altered history and each of our lives.
