Touching History: What Happened on 9/11 From The Pilots and Controllers Who Lived It
by JJ Cassa - November 23rd, 2008
There is a great book out there that I highly recommend for all aviation enthusiasts. “Touching History” by Lynn Spencer tells the story of 9/11 from the point of view of the pilots and controllers who actually were involved in that fateful day.
While 300+ pages in length, the book reads really fast and keeps you engaged in the story from start to finish. It is clear that it was the heroics of several pilots and controllers that day that saved this country from further tragedy, rather than any coordinated response from the federal government. People really stepped up on that day, and would even go outside of the chain of command if needed to save lives.
You would think that the order to shut down the US airspace came from the highlest levels of the administration, and this is what the media and the 9/11 commission report want you to believe. However, it turns out that is was an individual in a lower level position that made the call that saved lives. They went outside of “protocol” and “the rules” and just went with their gut. I believe all of us could learn from this- sometimes you just have to throw the rules out the window and do what you think is right.
If you would like to purchase this excellent book, check out the link below:
Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies Over America on 9/11