This is a transcript of all NEADS radio messages related to Delta 89 between 9:39 a.m and 9:46 a.m. Channels 4 and 21 are the most important ones, Channels 7, 2 and 3 give additional information. I have put all the channels in a chronological order at the end ("Channels omni") together with the radio talk between Cleveland Center and Delta 1989).
Extern callers, like Colin Scoggins and Indianapolis Center, are shown in italic. The times should be accurate within +-5 seconds. I skipped repetitions and redundant utterances (like "oops" etc). Everyone is invited to check the audio tapes and verify the transcript here:
http://www.erpn.org/NORAD-911.htm
A transcript of the Cleveland Center/Delta 1989 talk is here:
http://aal77.com/faa/faa_atc/zob/2%20AWA%202%20Accident%20Package%20ZOB-ARTCC-287%20UAL93%20REDACT.pdfIn a forthcoming blog entry, I will deliver an interpretation of these radio talks, put them into context and show up their historical relevance.
Channel 4
9:41:00 Delta 89 is a hijack, they think it's a hijack, south of Cleveland, we have a code on him now
9:41:05 Good! Pick it up! Find it!
9:41:13 Eight-nine. Boeing 767 Boston-Las Vegas. Another one - same place - Las Vegas
9:41:23 Okay what's the special number? What do you've got in on?
9:41:30 Bravo zero-eight-nine is our Delta eight-nine
9:41:42 That's another hijack. Delta eight-nine. Bravo zero-eight-nine is the track. Make that a special fifteen and (unintelligible)
9:42:18 Do you have a possible destination of that Delta eight-nine? It's headed to Las Vegas. Okay.
9:42:43 Indy Center? Indianapolis Center: Delta eight-nine have you information on that aircraft? I want to give you a heads-up. This is another hijacked aircraft, Boston to Las Vegas with a Mode 3 of 1304. We do have contact. ((repeats informations))
9:43:04 I give you a latlong if you need that. Go ahead. 4121 North 08215 West. I'll give you a heads-up that's all we have right now, but he's a confirmed hijack
9:43:16 (Indianapolis Center) We don't show him in our system at this point - you are tracking him, you say? We have him on the radar, Sir - he's headed your way. He's headed our way, okay.
9:43:35 Boston to L-A-S, right? L-A-X. L-A-X? I've got Vegas, Sir, whatever Vegas says. L-A-S, okay, Las Vegas. Okay, cause we don't show him in the system anywhere. Do you have Mode 3 capability or anything? He's on a 1304 code? Okay, we bring that up.
9:44:02 Where did it go? Somebody dropped the aircraft. Who dropped the aircraft? I DON'T KNOW!
Channel 21
9:41:05 Another one. I hear someone going from Boston going to Las Vegas - another one
9:41:30 As before is one missing. Start a search. Range 53
9:41:35 288 for 92 miles search only
9:41:46 I have a 280 for 97
9:41:58 I have a 287 for 97
9:42:23 The two real close together. One used - one has a code of 7112 - the one we are next to 'em
9:43:55 (Background) What the hell is that?
9:46:03 just watch a track (unintelligible).
9:46:13 What's the special at Cleveland? That's what we're all tracking - special fifteen
9:46:25 (?)52 on a 49 for 59 miles searching. We got a 1304 squawk this time
9:46:53 The 1304 guy. That's not the guy then
Channel 7
9:39:31 Colin Scoggins, Boston Center military. Hijacked aircraft Delta nineteen eightynine. I give you the code 1304, presently due south of Cleveland, heading westbound, destination Las Vegas. And is this one a hijack, Sir? We believe it is. Didn't it squawk hijack? We don't umm...I don't know - it's squawking 1304 if you want to crank him up. 767, altitude 350. Where did it take off? Out of Boston. We're trying to get a tail number on that if you want to get someone up
9:42:52 Scoggins, military. We believe that aircraft is a hijack. The Delta Airlines 1989? Yes. We have a tail number for you: N189DL.
9:45:20 Delta 1989 - He has acknowledged he would land in Cleveland, so he might not be a hijack
Channel 2
9:43:45 did you get the word I got a Delta eight-niner south - excuse me - south-south-east of Toledo
Channel 3
9:41:55 southeast of Toledo approximately 75 miles - Bravo zero-eight-nine
Channels omni
(NEADS Channels 2, 3, 4, 7, 21 + Cleveland Center/Delta 1989 radio talk)
..........9:37:54 (Lorain Radar) delta nineteen eighty nine cleveland
..........9:37:56 (Delta 1989) go ahead sir
..........9:37:57 (Lorain Radar) delta nineteen eighty nine turn right now to a heading of three one five
..........9:38:01 (Delta 1989) three one five delta nineteen eighty nine
..........9:38:52 (Lorain Radar) roger delta nineteen eighty nine there's traffic for you at eleven o'clock and fifteen miles southbound fourty one climbing looks like he's turning east fly heading three six zero
..........9:39:00 (Lorain Radar) okay thanks delta nineteen eighty nine
9:39:31 Colin Scoggins, Boston Center military. Hijacked aircraft Delta nineteen eightynine. I give you the code 1304, presently due south of Cleveland, heading westbound, destination Las Vegas. And is this one a hijack, Sir? We believe it is. Didn't it squawk hijack? We don't umm...I don't know - it's squawking 1304 if you want to crank him up. 767, altitude 350. Where did it take off? Out of Boston. We're trying to get a tail number on that if you want to get someone up
..........9:40:57 (Lorain Radar) delta nineteen eighty nine fly heading two eight five
..........9:41:00 (Delta 1989) two eight five delta nineteen eighty nine
9:41:00 Delta 89 is a hijack, they think it's a hijack, south of Cleveland, we have a code on him now
9:41:05 Good! Pick it up! Find it!
9:41:05 Another one. I hear someone going from Boston going to Las Vegas - another one
9:41:13 Eight-nine. Boeing 767 Boston-Las Vegas. Another one - same place - Las Vegas
9:41:23 Okay what's the special number? What do you've got in on?
9:41:30 Bravo zero-eight-nine is our Delta eight-nine
9:41:30 As before is one missing. Start a search. Range 53
9:41:35 288 for 92 miles search only
9:41:42 That's another hijack. Delta eight-nine. Bravo zero-eight-nine is the track. Make that a special fifteen and (unintelligible)
9:41:46 I have a 280 for 97
9:41:55 southeast of Toledo approximately 75 miles - Bravo zero-eight-nine
9:41:58 I have a 287 for 97
9:42:23 The two real close together. One used - one has a code of 7112 - the one we are next to 'em
9:42:43 Indy Center? Indianapolis Center: Delta eight-nine have you information on that aircraft? I want to give you a heads-up. This is another hijacked aircraft, Boston to Las Vegas with a Mode 3 of 1304. We do have contact. ((repeats informations))
9:42:52 Scoggins, military. We believe that aircraft is a hijack. The Delta Airlines 1989? Yes. We have a tail number for you: N189DL.
9:43:04 I give you a latlong if you need that. Go ahead. 4121 North 08215 West. I'll give you a heads-up that's all we have right now, but he's a confirmed hijack
9:43:16 (Indianapolis Center) We don't show him in our system at this point - you are tracking him, you say? We have him on the radar, Sir - he's headed your way. He's headed our way, okay.
9:43:35 (Indianapolis Center) Boston to L-A-S, right? L-A-X. L-A-X? I've got Vegas, Sir, whatever Vegas says. L-A-S, okay, Las Vegas. Okay, cause when I sow him in the system anywhere. Do you have Mode 3 capability or anything? He's on a 1304 code? Okay, we bring that up.
9:43:45 did you get the word I got a Delta eight-niner south - excuse me - south-south-east of Toledo
9:43:55 (Background) What the hell is that?
..........9:43:56 (Delta 1989) cleveland center delta nineteen eighty nine
9:44:03 Where did it go? Somebody dropped the aircraft. Who dropped the aircraft? I DON'T KNOW!..........9:44:09 (Delta 1989) cleveland delta nineteen eighty nine
..........9:44:10 (Lorain Radar) delta nineteen eighty nine
..........9:44:12 (Delta 1989) company wants us on the ground in cleveland
..........9:44:12 (Lorain Radar) say again
..........9:44:16 (Delta 1989) the company wants us to divert to land at cleveland
..........9:44:19 (Lorain Radar) delta nineteen eighty niner roger fly your present heading descend and maintain flight level three three zero expect further vectoring for cleveland
..........9:44:24 (Delta 1989) delta nineteen eighty nine three three zero present heading
..........9:44:27 (Lorain Radar) delta nineteen eighty nine roger and contact cleveland one one niner point three two
..........9:44:31 (Delta 1989) nineteen thirty two
9:45:20 (Scoggins) Delta 1989 - He has acknowledged he would land in Cleveland, so he might not be a hijack
9:46:03 just watch a track (unintelligible).
9:46:13 What's the special at Cleveland? That's what we're all tracking - special fifteen
9:46:25 (?)52 on a 49 for 59 miles searching. We got a 1304 squawk this time
9:46:53 The 1304 guy. That's not the guy then
