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Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies Over America on 9/11
On the azure blue morning of 9/11 the skies were pronounced "severe clear," in the parlance of airline pilots; a gorgeous day for flying. Nearly 5,000 flights were cruising the skies over America when FAA Operations Manager Ben Sliney arrived at the Command Center for his first day on that job. He could never have anticipated the historic drama that was about to unfold as Americans who found themselves on the front lines of a totally unprecedented attack on our homeland sprang into action to defend our country and save lives. In this gripping moment-to-moment narrative, based on groundbreaking reporting, Lynn Spencer brings the inspiring true drama of their unflinching and heroic response vividly to life for the first time, taking us right inside the airliner cockpits and control towers, the fighter jets and the military battle cabs. She makes vital corrections to the findings of the 9/11 Commission Report, and reveals many startling, utterly unknown elements of the story. As a commercial pilot herself, for whom the attacks hit terribly close to home, she knew that the true scope and nature of the response so brilliantly improvised that morning by those in the thick of the action -- with so little guidance from those at the highest levels -- had not at all been captured by the news coverage or the 9/11 Commission. To get to the truth, she went on a three-year quest, interviewing hundreds of key players, listening to untold hours of tapes and pouring through voluminous transcripts to re-create each heart-stopping moment as it happened through their eyes and in their words as the drama unfolded. From the shocking moment at 7:59 a.m. that American 11 fails to respond to a controller's call, until the last commercial flight has safely landed and military jets rule the skies, all Americans will find themselves deeply moved and amazed by the grace and fierce determination of these steely men and women as they draw on all of their exquisite training to grasp, through the fog of war, what is happening, put their lives on the line, and mount an astonishing response. This beautifully crafted and deeply affecting account of the full story of their courageous actions is a vital addition to the country's understanding of a day that has forever changed our nation.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
108 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
January 22, 2019
To anyone who lived through 9-11, you know what happened and many of the minute-by-minute details are very familiar. Yet, this book, written in 2008, provided me a fresh perspective on that fateful day.
The story is told from three vantage points, all tightly woven in chronological sequence:
* The FAA and Air traffic controllers
* The air defense system, especially Air National Guard units
* Flight crew of airliners
The story is gripping and puts you smack down into ready rooms, cockpits, and command centers. Disbelief yields into frenzied orders under uncertain information. Communication systems don’t interoperate between the military and civilian spheres. Leaders are forced to make decisions without waiting on the chain of command. You can’t help but admire the operational leaders.
Along with “102 Minutes” (the story as told from the WTC vantage), I highly recommend Lynne Spencer’s book. You will have a hard time putting it down.
The story is told from three vantage points, all tightly woven in chronological sequence:
* The FAA and Air traffic controllers
* The air defense system, especially Air National Guard units
* Flight crew of airliners
The story is gripping and puts you smack down into ready rooms, cockpits, and command centers. Disbelief yields into frenzied orders under uncertain information. Communication systems don’t interoperate between the military and civilian spheres. Leaders are forced to make decisions without waiting on the chain of command. You can’t help but admire the operational leaders.
Along with “102 Minutes” (the story as told from the WTC vantage), I highly recommend Lynne Spencer’s book. You will have a hard time putting it down.
April 26, 2023
Written from a perspective not often talked about on 9/11. Very very interesting read.
August 9, 2018
Lynn Spencer's book on 9/11, "Touching History", is not a new book. It was originally published in 2008, and then republished in 2018. Spencer covers the response of the American air system - commercial, general, and governmental - to the attacks on 9/11.
Most people reading this review will remember "that day"; the skies were so blue almost everywhere in the country that they were termed by flyers as "severe clear". It was into those skies that three wide-bodied airplanes were flown into buildings and another went into the ground in rural Pennsylvania. But what of the other commercial airplanes in the air that day? Lynn Spencer interviewed pilots - both commercial and military - and airline and government officials as the skies were cleared. Spencer is a very good writer and the book is very interesting.
By the way, there's a fantastic graphic on You Tube. I can't link but if you put in "September 11th 2001 Airspace Shutdown (With Timeline) "
Most people reading this review will remember "that day"; the skies were so blue almost everywhere in the country that they were termed by flyers as "severe clear". It was into those skies that three wide-bodied airplanes were flown into buildings and another went into the ground in rural Pennsylvania. But what of the other commercial airplanes in the air that day? Lynn Spencer interviewed pilots - both commercial and military - and airline and government officials as the skies were cleared. Spencer is a very good writer and the book is very interesting.
By the way, there's a fantastic graphic on You Tube. I can't link but if you put in "September 11th 2001 Airspace Shutdown (With Timeline) "
September 19, 2024
Really this narrative was non stop action. Since I really enjoy aviation this was right up my alley. What will stand out in this book was the sheer idiocy of those branches of the government bureaucracy and their absolute incompetence in communicating with each other as the day unfolded. What an embarrassing situation but not surprising. It would probably be even worse today.
Anyway, hats off to those flight attendants who made calls and tried to give the head up as to what was happening (they really did give all the information you could ask for, to mostly be disregarded at the time) as well as the fighter pilots who not only manned their planes in seconds but also were perfectly willing to sacrifice themselves as well. America.
Anyway, hats off to those flight attendants who made calls and tried to give the head up as to what was happening (they really did give all the information you could ask for, to mostly be disregarded at the time) as well as the fighter pilots who not only manned their planes in seconds but also were perfectly willing to sacrifice themselves as well. America.
September 12, 2024
Before I start, I need to confess that I have a bias. My dad’s story as a commercial pilot flying into New York on 9/11 is featured in several chapters and in the epilogue.
That being said, this book features the accounts of several Air Traffic Controllers, FAA Administrators, Commercial Pilots and Military Pilots during the events of September 11, 2001 and the various extraordinary circumstances they found themselves in. The author does a good job of explaining the jargon and procedures throughout the book, making it fairly accessible. Many of the stories are interlinked, so you get to hear several perspectives around one event.
The book is in roughly chronological order, but after the pentagon is attacked and US airspace is closed, the book shifts mainly to a military perspective. I found many of these chapters to be tedious and fairly repetitive, but interesting nonetheless.
The writing itself is excellent, and I can personally attest that the author retold these stories faithfully. It was uncanny reading parts featuring my father, it sounds nearly exactly like how he described it. Overall this was a very interesting book that lends a nice perspective to a largely overlooked subject of the 9/11 attacks. 4.5 stars.
That being said, this book features the accounts of several Air Traffic Controllers, FAA Administrators, Commercial Pilots and Military Pilots during the events of September 11, 2001 and the various extraordinary circumstances they found themselves in. The author does a good job of explaining the jargon and procedures throughout the book, making it fairly accessible. Many of the stories are interlinked, so you get to hear several perspectives around one event.
The book is in roughly chronological order, but after the pentagon is attacked and US airspace is closed, the book shifts mainly to a military perspective. I found many of these chapters to be tedious and fairly repetitive, but interesting nonetheless.
The writing itself is excellent, and I can personally attest that the author retold these stories faithfully. It was uncanny reading parts featuring my father, it sounds nearly exactly like how he described it. Overall this was a very interesting book that lends a nice perspective to a largely overlooked subject of the 9/11 attacks. 4.5 stars.
October 11, 2025
This book is so important. I have not read The 9/11 Comission yet, but this book by Lynn Spencer covers sufficiently the air events surrounding the terrorist attacks. Thorough interviewing of the major players behind the scenes provides a play-by-play that news anchors could not provide. 9/11 was horrible, but it could have been SO MUCH WORSE.
So many unsung heroes who rose to the occasion to prevent mid-air collisions, closely monitored flights that were labeled as possibly hijacked and the other 4000+ flights in US airspace that day. If you have ever wondered what happened with all the other flights that were en route after US airspace was shut down, there are some snapshots of what that looked like.
There is strong evidence for a fifth plane that never got off the ground that morning.
This book also the spotlights military personnel who bravely and unselfishly put their own needs on hold to focus and do their best job during times of unprecedented crisis. The afterword by Major General Larry Arnold is particularly valuable. This retelling of 9/11 should be required reading in US history classes. I will be listening the audio version of this in the future.
So many unsung heroes who rose to the occasion to prevent mid-air collisions, closely monitored flights that were labeled as possibly hijacked and the other 4000+ flights in US airspace that day. If you have ever wondered what happened with all the other flights that were en route after US airspace was shut down, there are some snapshots of what that looked like.
There is strong evidence for a fifth plane that never got off the ground that morning.
This book also the spotlights military personnel who bravely and unselfishly put their own needs on hold to focus and do their best job during times of unprecedented crisis. The afterword by Major General Larry Arnold is particularly valuable. This retelling of 9/11 should be required reading in US history classes. I will be listening the audio version of this in the future.
October 5, 2021
I heard about this book after reading “The Only Plane in the Sky” and it was so incredibly interesting. It’s amazing how nothing was streamlined (because it didn’t have a reason to be) before this day and what a true miracle happened by grounding so many aircrafts while deploying military personnel and planes all from different branches. I would recommend this as an audio book because the narrator is fantastic
July 12, 2023
I wasn’t quite sure what this book was going to be like, BUT I am so glad I decided to read it. It is a chilling account of what happened in our airspace on 9/11, how pilots responded, our government and FAA officials across the country. Perhaps the most chilling quote from the book: “The United States is closed”.
June 12, 2017
This book offers a really interesting perspective for the events of 9/11 that I had not previously seen or even thought about.
August 19, 2025
Incredible and heartbreaking story
September 25, 2008
I picked up this book after I heard the author do a reading from it at Barnes & Noble a couple of months ago. She wanted to share how 9/11 was experienced by combat and commercial pilots.
The beginning of the book is full of procedures and acronyms. While she does explain everything in layman's terms, it comes across as a bit clinical. Of course, once the attacks actually start, things get more "exciting" (if you could call it that).
Even though I watched the events of that day unfolding on CNN, this book does not recount the day I remember. I guess I couldn't really wrap my mind around it, but at the time I just thought those four (!) attacks were isolated incidents.
Reading about it from the pilots' perspective is like reading a Tom Clancy novel. Most of them have military experience; as a result, their first reaction is, "We're at war." When I heard that all flights had been grounded, it seemed like a natural response to the crisis. When they heard that order, it had so many more connotations. They were now viewed as threats by the jets that had been deployed and by their own air controllers, and viewed everyone else on their planes and in the skies as a threat. The book comes across as Pearl Harbor meets Thirteen Days, in that there is a catastrophic attack on the U.S., which might lead to the next World War.
Overall I tend to stay away from 9/11-themed movies or books, because I feel like they're trying to capitalize on people's emotions. This one won me over on that count, but there really wasn't that much new information. It's meant to be a defense of the military response and demonstrate that terrorists using planes as suicide bombs was never even considered a possibility, which is why they got away with it. I still think what I always thought: we were overwhelmed and unprepared, and did the best we could under those circumstances.
So if you're a 9/11 junkie, this one's for you. Otherwise, you already know the story.
The beginning of the book is full of procedures and acronyms. While she does explain everything in layman's terms, it comes across as a bit clinical. Of course, once the attacks actually start, things get more "exciting" (if you could call it that).
Even though I watched the events of that day unfolding on CNN, this book does not recount the day I remember. I guess I couldn't really wrap my mind around it, but at the time I just thought those four (!) attacks were isolated incidents.
Reading about it from the pilots' perspective is like reading a Tom Clancy novel. Most of them have military experience; as a result, their first reaction is, "We're at war." When I heard that all flights had been grounded, it seemed like a natural response to the crisis. When they heard that order, it had so many more connotations. They were now viewed as threats by the jets that had been deployed and by their own air controllers, and viewed everyone else on their planes and in the skies as a threat. The book comes across as Pearl Harbor meets Thirteen Days, in that there is a catastrophic attack on the U.S., which might lead to the next World War.
Overall I tend to stay away from 9/11-themed movies or books, because I feel like they're trying to capitalize on people's emotions. This one won me over on that count, but there really wasn't that much new information. It's meant to be a defense of the military response and demonstrate that terrorists using planes as suicide bombs was never even considered a possibility, which is why they got away with it. I still think what I always thought: we were overwhelmed and unprepared, and did the best we could under those circumstances.
So if you're a 9/11 junkie, this one's for you. Otherwise, you already know the story.
June 23, 2013
Although author Spencer, herself a pilot, has no previous writing experience she has done a creditable job with this book, the result of three years research on events in the air over North America during 9/11. The book is a suspenseful page-turner.
While critical of the 9/ll Commission Report for errors and omissions, this book does not address all of the outstanding issues from that day. It does not address, for instance, Richard Clarke's critiques, nor the questions pertaining to the ability of the downed planes to effect the damage they did on the ground. It doesn't even mention the flights of Arabs, including members of Osama bin Laden's family, in USA airspace that occurred after global no-fly orders were given.
Such sins of omission notwithstanding, this appears to be a valuable contribution to the on-going debate about 9/11 and the political uses to which it has been put.
While critical of the 9/ll Commission Report for errors and omissions, this book does not address all of the outstanding issues from that day. It does not address, for instance, Richard Clarke's critiques, nor the questions pertaining to the ability of the downed planes to effect the damage they did on the ground. It doesn't even mention the flights of Arabs, including members of Osama bin Laden's family, in USA airspace that occurred after global no-fly orders were given.
Such sins of omission notwithstanding, this appears to be a valuable contribution to the on-going debate about 9/11 and the political uses to which it has been put.
November 11, 2008
Oh, my - I guess this is what happens when you check out books without looking at the subtitle.
I thought this was going to be something about history, but it's actually a very dry, fairly technical book about aviation on September 11. The author is herself a pilot, and reading the book almost gives you the sensation of being a flight controller - she throws out about eight billion events and facts, and you just run out of time for any "drama in the skies." This was dreadfully boring.
I thought this was going to be something about history, but it's actually a very dry, fairly technical book about aviation on September 11. The author is herself a pilot, and reading the book almost gives you the sensation of being a flight controller - she throws out about eight billion events and facts, and you just run out of time for any "drama in the skies." This was dreadfully boring.
January 17, 2010
As a certified news-a-holic I thought I had read everything, seen every documentary and Discovery Channel special on 9/11. I didn't think there were any storylines that I wouldn't have at least heard of. Boy was I wrong.
This book is amazing. A true inside look at the minute to minute happenings between the military and civilian leadership, the airlines, the airports, and dozens of actual pilots who were in the skies on the morning of Sept 11th.
This is a must-read book.
This book is amazing. A true inside look at the minute to minute happenings between the military and civilian leadership, the airlines, the airports, and dozens of actual pilots who were in the skies on the morning of Sept 11th.
This is a must-read book.
August 24, 2008
How the aviation industry/military handled the 9/11 crisis. Stories of many commercial pilots and military pilots on that fateful day, and how they reacted to the unprecedented situation. Confusion reigns.
June 7, 2019
A bit on the "highly technical" side-----but interesting overall.
April 15, 2025
Minute by minute account of the morning of 9/11, told from many perspectives, including FAA agents, commercial pilots, and military.
Don't take to long to read this book, because there are dozens of people telling their part of the story, and you'll forget who's who!
Fascinating book, if you're interested in how the FAA was alerted to the attacks and how they cleared the skies that day. For the national FAA operations manager, it was his first day on the job!
Quotes I like:
"He doesn't offer any further information for the simple reason that he doesn't have any." (p97)
"Look at your watch," the captain says to his first officer. "Note the time and remember the date, because life in America has just changed forever." (pg 97)
Pilot Mannello, after following orders to land, "comes to a shocking realization and time seems to slow down. "Wait a minute. All these airplanes are wide body transcontinental flights loaded with fuel. I had four Arab men sitting in first class." The thought is quickly followed by another, "this is me! I would have been next!" (pg 105)
"It doesn't make any sense to Eckmann, but he's a military officer and he'll follow orders. "Well, if they want you to go then you'll just go as our number three! Go suit up and take the spare," he says, referring to the third F-16 at the detachment, which is not on alert and so is not loaded with weapons.
Borgy is on his heels and flying back toward the stairs. "Arm my gun! I've got to get my stuff! He yells to the crew chief behind him, directing him to at least put bullets in the fighter's six barrel 20 mm gun. It's the only ammo he'll have. He takes the stairs two by two to retrieve his harness and helmet.
When he returns moments later with his gear he can't shake the sense that this is all wrong. The whole situation is unprecedented and he's uncomfortable. He feels compelled to advise his immediate higher-ups, and reaches for the phone on the wall, punching in the direct number for the wing Commander of the 119th, their home fighter wing in Fargo. The commander answers immediately.
"Sir, they're launching all three of us. I don't know what's going on, but there's no Ops supervision here at all!" Borgy blurts out.
The commander has seen the news and understands what's happening but there is no time to explain to his young officer, so he says the only things that are important when sending an airman to battle: "Go! Our thoughts are with you. Godspeed."
Those aren't the reassuring words that Borgy was hoping for, but he hangs up the phone and runs to his jet. He realizes now that he is being sent to war." (pg 119)
"He releases his microphone, his heart pounding, and turns to his first officer. "Aviation as we know it," he says in a hoarse whisperer, "has changed forever." (pg 166)
"He's not waiting anymore for approval from headquarters. On his first day on the job as the national operations manager he heads up the center aisle of the command center calling out a historical order. "Clear the skies!" he commands, "Order everyone to land! Get everything on the ground--NOW!" (pg 170)
"Requests are quickly coming in, though, from aircraft wanting to land at airports other than the nearest suitable. "No!" Sliney says. "Just land them at the nearest airport I need everybody down." At this point, he's looking at them all as potential missiles. He wonders if he has overstepped his authority, but then thinks back to a conversation he had when Jack Kies offered him the position of national operations manager. "What is the limit of my authority over the national airspace?" Sliney had asked him. "Unlimited," Kies had responded. "You own the NAS." He sure hopes so, but there's no more time to think about it. (pg 185)
"It occurs to him that he and the controller are not speaking the same language. The military works to bring aircraft together-- and hence has very specific methods for relaying target location information --while air traffic controllers work diligently to do the opposite: to keep planes apart." (pg 220)
"We're under attack! Borgy realizes. He doesn't know who the enemy is, or that commercial airliners are the weapons, but he understands the seriousness of the situation. He is on the front lines of a war that he knows nothing about." (pg 223)
"Hey dad," the pilot calls to say, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm safe on the ground in Cleveland."
"Good for you, son," comes a blase response. His father is completely unaware of the days events." (Pg 229)
"The air traffic controllers at National Airport watch the F-16 fly past with a surge of relief. "Our boys have arrived," one comments." (pg 236)
Don't take to long to read this book, because there are dozens of people telling their part of the story, and you'll forget who's who!
Fascinating book, if you're interested in how the FAA was alerted to the attacks and how they cleared the skies that day. For the national FAA operations manager, it was his first day on the job!
Quotes I like:
"He doesn't offer any further information for the simple reason that he doesn't have any." (p97)
"Look at your watch," the captain says to his first officer. "Note the time and remember the date, because life in America has just changed forever." (pg 97)
Pilot Mannello, after following orders to land, "comes to a shocking realization and time seems to slow down. "Wait a minute. All these airplanes are wide body transcontinental flights loaded with fuel. I had four Arab men sitting in first class." The thought is quickly followed by another, "this is me! I would have been next!" (pg 105)
"It doesn't make any sense to Eckmann, but he's a military officer and he'll follow orders. "Well, if they want you to go then you'll just go as our number three! Go suit up and take the spare," he says, referring to the third F-16 at the detachment, which is not on alert and so is not loaded with weapons.
Borgy is on his heels and flying back toward the stairs. "Arm my gun! I've got to get my stuff! He yells to the crew chief behind him, directing him to at least put bullets in the fighter's six barrel 20 mm gun. It's the only ammo he'll have. He takes the stairs two by two to retrieve his harness and helmet.
When he returns moments later with his gear he can't shake the sense that this is all wrong. The whole situation is unprecedented and he's uncomfortable. He feels compelled to advise his immediate higher-ups, and reaches for the phone on the wall, punching in the direct number for the wing Commander of the 119th, their home fighter wing in Fargo. The commander answers immediately.
"Sir, they're launching all three of us. I don't know what's going on, but there's no Ops supervision here at all!" Borgy blurts out.
The commander has seen the news and understands what's happening but there is no time to explain to his young officer, so he says the only things that are important when sending an airman to battle: "Go! Our thoughts are with you. Godspeed."
Those aren't the reassuring words that Borgy was hoping for, but he hangs up the phone and runs to his jet. He realizes now that he is being sent to war." (pg 119)
"He releases his microphone, his heart pounding, and turns to his first officer. "Aviation as we know it," he says in a hoarse whisperer, "has changed forever." (pg 166)
"He's not waiting anymore for approval from headquarters. On his first day on the job as the national operations manager he heads up the center aisle of the command center calling out a historical order. "Clear the skies!" he commands, "Order everyone to land! Get everything on the ground--NOW!" (pg 170)
"Requests are quickly coming in, though, from aircraft wanting to land at airports other than the nearest suitable. "No!" Sliney says. "Just land them at the nearest airport I need everybody down." At this point, he's looking at them all as potential missiles. He wonders if he has overstepped his authority, but then thinks back to a conversation he had when Jack Kies offered him the position of national operations manager. "What is the limit of my authority over the national airspace?" Sliney had asked him. "Unlimited," Kies had responded. "You own the NAS." He sure hopes so, but there's no more time to think about it. (pg 185)
"It occurs to him that he and the controller are not speaking the same language. The military works to bring aircraft together-- and hence has very specific methods for relaying target location information --while air traffic controllers work diligently to do the opposite: to keep planes apart." (pg 220)
"We're under attack! Borgy realizes. He doesn't know who the enemy is, or that commercial airliners are the weapons, but he understands the seriousness of the situation. He is on the front lines of a war that he knows nothing about." (pg 223)
"Hey dad," the pilot calls to say, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm safe on the ground in Cleveland."
"Good for you, son," comes a blase response. His father is completely unaware of the days events." (Pg 229)
"The air traffic controllers at National Airport watch the F-16 fly past with a surge of relief. "Our boys have arrived," one comments." (pg 236)
September 27, 2021
When the brilliant blue skies over the continental United States became a place of confusion, dread, loss, and death, it was the men and women of air traffic control who knew it first – and when everyone else had begun to etch Tuesday, September 11 into the history books, for the men of the Air Force the day’s work was just getting started. Touching History tells the story of 9/11 through the eyes and ears of air traffic control. Written by a pilot, it offers a rare perspective and level of detail unavailable elsewhere. Although its amount of technical detail might frustrate the most casual of readers, for others that same detail is an open door into the increidbly crucial role played by air traffic control – not just on that day, but every day.
Touching History draws on three pools of witnesses; the air traffic controllers themselves; pilots, aviation administrators, and others connected to the airlines; and the US military, who scrambled to defend American cities in a way they hadn’t needed since the darkest days of the Cold War. We experience through them the day as it happened – the first inklings that something was amiss when American 11 suddenly stopped responding, and even more strangely turned off its transponder — the scattered reports that came in from hijacked airlines, phone calls whose information took precious minutes to percolate into place, confused reports as authorities realized there were multiple atypical hijackings happening simultaneously – and then the horror as airliners were turned into missiles. Bit by bit, the military’s airmen take a greater and greater role in the narrative – as the airlines do their damndest to get every plane in the sky on the ground, safely, NORAD and various levels of air defense were trying to get their men up, establishing command of the air in large metros with possible targets.
Experiencing 9/11 in this way is most unusual; most sources put us on the ground, close to the flames, smoke, and destruction. The immediate and sensational overwhelm us. Here, though, the horror is more removed and abstracted, but the overall effect is greater as the scope of the challenge is realized. Somehow, some party has taken control over multiple airplanes at once. How are they doing it? How many more potential missiles are up there? When will it end? The book makes plain how utterly unprecedented the events of the day were: hijackings had happened before, but they followed a pattern. Nothing today fit that pattern. Even if terrorists were taking over planes, how were they making the pilots steer into buildings? Even with a gun to his head, no pilot would willingly allow his craft to to take life on the ground. Although ultimately there were only four planes – unless there were five – NORAD and the airlines actively believed several other planes had been hijacked, and one flight was grounded in the belief that it was carrying a bomb. The day became saturated with fear – fighters dogged civilian airliners, and air crews recruited passengers to help them stand guard outside the cockpit. Spencer also shares information no one reading a traditional 9/11 history would get – like the strong possibility of a fifth target. United 23, a planned morning flight, was delayed by the initial news and later canceled. Left behind in its unclaimed baggage were “al-Queda documents and box cutters”, very likely belonging to four Arab passengers who, sitting together in first class, had quickly vanished into the crowd when it became obvious they weren’t going anywhere.
Touching History is one of the better 9/11 histories out there, in a class with The Only Plane in the Sky and The Looming Tower. While its level of detail into air defense and flight control operations might scare some, for me that additional look into air infrastructure made it all the more appealing.
Touching History draws on three pools of witnesses; the air traffic controllers themselves; pilots, aviation administrators, and others connected to the airlines; and the US military, who scrambled to defend American cities in a way they hadn’t needed since the darkest days of the Cold War. We experience through them the day as it happened – the first inklings that something was amiss when American 11 suddenly stopped responding, and even more strangely turned off its transponder — the scattered reports that came in from hijacked airlines, phone calls whose information took precious minutes to percolate into place, confused reports as authorities realized there were multiple atypical hijackings happening simultaneously – and then the horror as airliners were turned into missiles. Bit by bit, the military’s airmen take a greater and greater role in the narrative – as the airlines do their damndest to get every plane in the sky on the ground, safely, NORAD and various levels of air defense were trying to get their men up, establishing command of the air in large metros with possible targets.
Experiencing 9/11 in this way is most unusual; most sources put us on the ground, close to the flames, smoke, and destruction. The immediate and sensational overwhelm us. Here, though, the horror is more removed and abstracted, but the overall effect is greater as the scope of the challenge is realized. Somehow, some party has taken control over multiple airplanes at once. How are they doing it? How many more potential missiles are up there? When will it end? The book makes plain how utterly unprecedented the events of the day were: hijackings had happened before, but they followed a pattern. Nothing today fit that pattern. Even if terrorists were taking over planes, how were they making the pilots steer into buildings? Even with a gun to his head, no pilot would willingly allow his craft to to take life on the ground. Although ultimately there were only four planes – unless there were five – NORAD and the airlines actively believed several other planes had been hijacked, and one flight was grounded in the belief that it was carrying a bomb. The day became saturated with fear – fighters dogged civilian airliners, and air crews recruited passengers to help them stand guard outside the cockpit. Spencer also shares information no one reading a traditional 9/11 history would get – like the strong possibility of a fifth target. United 23, a planned morning flight, was delayed by the initial news and later canceled. Left behind in its unclaimed baggage were “al-Queda documents and box cutters”, very likely belonging to four Arab passengers who, sitting together in first class, had quickly vanished into the crowd when it became obvious they weren’t going anywhere.
Touching History is one of the better 9/11 histories out there, in a class with The Only Plane in the Sky and The Looming Tower. While its level of detail into air defense and flight control operations might scare some, for me that additional look into air infrastructure made it all the more appealing.
December 7, 2022
I have read, watched or listened to probably more than 50 tales about 9/11. I thought there just wasn’t any more to the story I didn’t know. Nonetheless, I picked up this book after seeing the author as one of the talking heads on a TV program. And lo and behold, she has a different point of view than any I had been exposed to — she tells more or less only the story from the air. And not just the 4 planes that crashed — everyone knows those and she adds nothing new there. However, did you know that there were several other planes that were believed to have been hijacked and the pilots didn’t know they were suspect? Or that one flight from Florida that was ordered returned to the terminal before takeoff had four Middle Eastern men seated in first class who disappeared as soon as they disembarked (no racism intended, just a curious fact). Or that the military actually had a quite robust — if too late — response and set up Combat Air Patrols over NY, Washington and Philadelphia? I didn’t know any of this, and, while the audiobook version of all this can get confusing, it was fascinating to learn. By the way, the confusion isn’t surprising, since many different branches of the services were involved and they never really worked with each other before — in fact, much of the response was improvised by very smart, brave men and women, doing their damndest to protect the country (several of the fighter jets were patrolling without armaments and were fully prepared to crash their own jets into aircraft if that was necessary to protect the cities). There are one or two moments of comic relief but this is an incredible feat of reporting and a unique (to me) take on the 9/11 story. It’s also a riveting audiobook, beautifully read by Joyce Bean.
Grade: A
Grade: A
January 6, 2019
"With nearly 5,000 planes in the sky during peak hours and approximately 50,000 flights operating on any given day, the work of the Command Center keeps nearly 50 specialists intensely busy at their posts, around the clock, planning and monitoring the flow of air traffic over the United States."
Most of us think about the heroic efforts of the police and firefighters on 9/11 who responded to the tragedy, but I admit I had given little thought to the heroes in air traffic control on that day. The morning of September 11, there was almost 3,000 flights airborne when the first plane was highjacked. This book does a phenomenal (albeit pilot technical jargon at times) job depicting the confusion and chaos that ensued in the wake of the hijackings and the amazing, heroic job the folks in air traffic control and pilots in flight did to land planes safely once the realization hit that any of them could be hijacked targets and the order was given that US airspace be closed and all flights grounded.
I had not realized the extent at which the national guard played in escorting planes still in flight that morning, or the number of military planes in the air that were deployed to ensure no other buildings in New York and Washington were targeted. And yes, there was the discussion that a civilian airliner may have to be shot down.
It's a bit of an intense read, but it's told in such a way you almost feel like you there as it unfolds. (There = various air traffic control locations). It does jump around location wise which can be a little confusing, and there are plenty of acronyms to keep straight.
Definitely recommend for 9/11 history and/or flying buffs.
Most of us think about the heroic efforts of the police and firefighters on 9/11 who responded to the tragedy, but I admit I had given little thought to the heroes in air traffic control on that day. The morning of September 11, there was almost 3,000 flights airborne when the first plane was highjacked. This book does a phenomenal (albeit pilot technical jargon at times) job depicting the confusion and chaos that ensued in the wake of the hijackings and the amazing, heroic job the folks in air traffic control and pilots in flight did to land planes safely once the realization hit that any of them could be hijacked targets and the order was given that US airspace be closed and all flights grounded.
I had not realized the extent at which the national guard played in escorting planes still in flight that morning, or the number of military planes in the air that were deployed to ensure no other buildings in New York and Washington were targeted. And yes, there was the discussion that a civilian airliner may have to be shot down.
It's a bit of an intense read, but it's told in such a way you almost feel like you there as it unfolds. (There = various air traffic control locations). It does jump around location wise which can be a little confusing, and there are plenty of acronyms to keep straight.
Definitely recommend for 9/11 history and/or flying buffs.
September 28, 2021
Book 57 of 2021 (audiobook)
One of the more interesting parts about 9/11, to me, was air-traffic control and how things were handled in the first moments of a god-awful day. Ms. Spencer was one of the people talking on a show I watched on the 20th anniversary and I learned of her book. Precisely what I would want to read on the subject!
Spencer does not disappoint and the audiobook reader is great. You really get an in-depth examination of how air traffic controllers worked that morning from the first hijacking to the shutdown of the skies. Really the entire book covers just a few hours of time from many different perspectives.
I'm fascinated by many of the stories: the first victims on the planes who never knew how big this thing was going to be. The people who also flew that day and had to wonder if they were ever going to land safely. Air-traffic controllers and pilots who were trained to deal with hijackers one way, only to learn 9/11 presented a never-before-seen challenge of suicidal hijackers willing to use the planes as weapons.
So there are tens of thousands of stories about that day that are never told. I don't think I'd ever heard about the pilots who began safeguarding their cockpits as they maneuvered around the country looking for safe places to land. They were grabbing axes and extinguishers in the cock pit and stationing people outside the door. Pretty interesting stuff in a crazy-wild time.
One of the more interesting parts about 9/11, to me, was air-traffic control and how things were handled in the first moments of a god-awful day. Ms. Spencer was one of the people talking on a show I watched on the 20th anniversary and I learned of her book. Precisely what I would want to read on the subject!
Spencer does not disappoint and the audiobook reader is great. You really get an in-depth examination of how air traffic controllers worked that morning from the first hijacking to the shutdown of the skies. Really the entire book covers just a few hours of time from many different perspectives.
I'm fascinated by many of the stories: the first victims on the planes who never knew how big this thing was going to be. The people who also flew that day and had to wonder if they were ever going to land safely. Air-traffic controllers and pilots who were trained to deal with hijackers one way, only to learn 9/11 presented a never-before-seen challenge of suicidal hijackers willing to use the planes as weapons.
So there are tens of thousands of stories about that day that are never told. I don't think I'd ever heard about the pilots who began safeguarding their cockpits as they maneuvered around the country looking for safe places to land. They were grabbing axes and extinguishers in the cock pit and stationing people outside the door. Pretty interesting stuff in a crazy-wild time.
February 5, 2024
If you want to learn about new perspectives on 9/11, this book will be the perfect fit for you. This tells the story from the point of view of pilots, air traffic controllers, FAA workers, people working for the airline, and even military fighter pilots. It gives new information that you probably have not even thought about before.
I enjoyed this book because I have a big interest in aviation and curiosity about 9/11. You do not need an interest in aviation and planes to be able to read and enjoy this book. Along with learning lots of new information about 9/11, you get to learn about a interesting book writing style. I have never read a book where the character changes every 2-4 pages. You get to hear from each perspective once or twice per chapter. This can make it a bit confusing, but that is my only complaint.
I would recommended this book to people 13 years old and up. Younger kids may have a hard time understanding all there characters and some of the words used. There is also some prophanity from some of the characters.
I enjoyed this book because I have a big interest in aviation and curiosity about 9/11. You do not need an interest in aviation and planes to be able to read and enjoy this book. Along with learning lots of new information about 9/11, you get to learn about a interesting book writing style. I have never read a book where the character changes every 2-4 pages. You get to hear from each perspective once or twice per chapter. This can make it a bit confusing, but that is my only complaint.
I would recommended this book to people 13 years old and up. Younger kids may have a hard time understanding all there characters and some of the words used. There is also some prophanity from some of the characters.
September 13, 2021
I knew some of the drama that unfolded in the air, but only what involved the FAA. This book tells all that unfolded in the skies that day. Not only was the FAA trying to figure out which planes were highjacked but NORAD, DC Air National Guard, Secret Service and regular control towers were all trying to protect the US from an internal, unknown attack. There was utter chaos with all of these divisions giving orders to fighter jets at once. Also there were multiple jets deployed not knowing other jets were sent out from different commands. Looking back I am surprised no one accidentally got shot down. I am also incredibly impressed with the fighter pilots and their cool, quick thinking and self sacrificing measures. Everyone knows how US air space was shut down, but hearing testimony from pilots again amazes me how all planes landed safely.
August 24, 2023
Stuff you don't find in the history books
History books will always only tell a slanted side of the story, depending on which side is telling the story. Firsthand accounts like those shared in this book, however, tell the true stories of the U.S.'s "second Day of Infamy". I remember what I was doing that day, as do hundreds of thousands others. I remember listening to the radio all day long, unable to turn it off no matter how depressing the reports got. I knew the skies were closed and I knew the skies were being patrolled by Guard fighters, but I had no idea about the challenges they faced or the massive coordination efforts that were perfected literally minute by minute. My utmost respect and gratitude to those pilots and the people coordinating on the ground. I thank all of you.
History books will always only tell a slanted side of the story, depending on which side is telling the story. Firsthand accounts like those shared in this book, however, tell the true stories of the U.S.'s "second Day of Infamy". I remember what I was doing that day, as do hundreds of thousands others. I remember listening to the radio all day long, unable to turn it off no matter how depressing the reports got. I knew the skies were closed and I knew the skies were being patrolled by Guard fighters, but I had no idea about the challenges they faced or the massive coordination efforts that were perfected literally minute by minute. My utmost respect and gratitude to those pilots and the people coordinating on the ground. I thank all of you.
December 24, 2023
This's the story of air traffic control and military aviation's response to 9/11, told in timestamps marching through that morning. No one was prepared for anything like this, from the moment when (to everyone's shock) the hijackers turned off their transponders. Everything was improvised, from the FAA shutting down all air traffic to different Air National Guard units throwing up whatever planes they could as quickly as they could.
Spencer shows us the drama of that, moment by moment. It wasn't a good response. But it was a decent response, and - she shows - a very human and understandable response. Her book doesn't go beyond that one morning, because the aftermath and sober reflection are another story. This is the story of the drama of the moment.
Spencer shows us the drama of that, moment by moment. It wasn't a good response. But it was a decent response, and - she shows - a very human and understandable response. Her book doesn't go beyond that one morning, because the aftermath and sober reflection are another story. This is the story of the drama of the moment.
February 21, 2025
This book is a one of a kind in that it was written to fill a void in the information known to the public about 9/11.
The book is obviously well researched in that it features numerous first person accounts from people who filled vital roles during that day. If you want to read about how normal people were thrust into an unknown event and how normal people adapted to solve and limit a crisis this book is for you.
I will caveat the above with the fact that if you are not at least basically aware of military or air traffic control procedures the book may be a bit daunting. There are a lot of abbreviations and terminology thrown around making it a little confusing but that is also one of the themes of the book so it’s hard to exactly fault the author for that
The book is obviously well researched in that it features numerous first person accounts from people who filled vital roles during that day. If you want to read about how normal people were thrust into an unknown event and how normal people adapted to solve and limit a crisis this book is for you.
I will caveat the above with the fact that if you are not at least basically aware of military or air traffic control procedures the book may be a bit daunting. There are a lot of abbreviations and terminology thrown around making it a little confusing but that is also one of the themes of the book so it’s hard to exactly fault the author for that
April 20, 2023
All the action in this book takes place in either an air traffic controller’s office, or the cockpit of a plane that didn’t crash. It is taken from interviews of those people who were involved. I found it utterly fascinating and if you have any interest in aviation, I think you will too.
My only issue was that it bounces back and forth between characters, repeating the same time over and over. Really, how else could you tell it and have it make sense? I listened to the audiobook, so I found it to be a little bit difficult to keep up.
My take-away from this book was shocking. In my living room, watching my tv, I knew more about what was going on than any of the people in the book!
My only issue was that it bounces back and forth between characters, repeating the same time over and over. Really, how else could you tell it and have it make sense? I listened to the audiobook, so I found it to be a little bit difficult to keep up.
My take-away from this book was shocking. In my living room, watching my tv, I knew more about what was going on than any of the people in the book!
April 14, 2023
911 The Real Story
Everyone who reads this book will be amazed at how such different entities with different operating systems were able to keep track of who was flying where and who were a danger to our country. Let’s face it, the USA was caught off guard. Now flying in the USA is safer than ever. Plenty of first hand accounts of pillows who was where, and how they did what they did to keep their passengers safe.
Everyone who reads this book will be amazed at how such different entities with different operating systems were able to keep track of who was flying where and who were a danger to our country. Let’s face it, the USA was caught off guard. Now flying in the USA is safer than ever. Plenty of first hand accounts of pillows who was where, and how they did what they did to keep their passengers safe.
February 4, 2020
Breathtaking account of all that unfolded among those airborne on 9/11. It seemed like the author projected many of her own emotions and/or assumptions onto some of the participants though. I was very interested to read more about what happened to the flights over the Pacific - haven’t seen this much in other 9/11 books.
July 19, 2020
A must read for history and aviation buffs. I read “The Day the World Came to Town” which really tweaked my interest to some of the side stories for 9/11. This book delivers. There is great suspense and appropriate humor as we witness the human-will adapt to chaos, fear and fatigue while continuing to overcome unbelievable odds.
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