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Manager of Frederick Municipal Airport recalls Sept. 11, 2001, attacksSep 11, 2009 (The Frederick News-Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Eight years ago today was the most tense Charlie Abell had been in 50 years of an aviation career. The office at Frederick Municipal Airport buzzed like a beehive. Outside, the lack of airplane noise and flight activity made the airport Abell managed seem a strange place. Pilots came in and out of the office trying to find out what had happened. That morning, the world had watched two planes fly into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Another struck the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field. Pilots wanted to know when the local airport would be open again. "The phones were ringing as people kept calling to find out the latest information on the situation," Abell said. That morning at home, called to the TV by the tone of his wife's voice, he watched the second plane hit one of the towers. One of Abell's first thoughts was to get to the airport as soon as he could. Abell jumped into his city government Jeep. The trip normally took about 18 minutes. With emergency lights flashing and horn honking, Abell made it in 12. The vehicle was equipped as a mobile command post with a city radio and radios to monitor and communicate with the airport and pilots in the air. Abell called his assistant. Mayor Jim Grimes wanted him to call right away, Abell said. "She said the phones were ringing like crazy," he said. Abell called the Federal Aviation Administration, asking them to close the airport to air traffic. Another call was made to the airport businesses, instructing them to put as many airplanes inside the hangars as they could, especially jets, then close and lock all doors. Grimes called a staff meeting at City Hall with Abell, city police, key airport tenants and other emergency personnel. Since airplanes had been used to crash into buildings, everyone was concerned about the airport, Abell said. "I explained to the group we had put the airport in a lockdown state," Abell said. Police were stationed on the ramp in front of the terminal building. A firetruck stood at the Maryland State Police hangar. Having the airport closed for a few days was an opportune time for consultants to analyze and inspect the airport's pavements. But there was a shift change during one inspection and no one notified a new police officer who had come on duty about the consultants, Abell said. "As the new officer settled into his post, he looks out across the airport and he sees this vehicle coming down the runway at a fairly fast rate of speed," Abell said. Without hesitation, the surprised officer chased the consultants with lights flashing and siren blasting away, Abell said. "The police officer must have thought he had captured a real terrorist. He had him get out of the car and do a spread-eagle, then did a pat-down," Abell said. The consultants explained they were approved to be there. "I was pleased that the city police officer was on the ball and did his job well," Abell said. "We love to tell that story at the local bar over a couple of beers." Throughout the day, Abell and assistant Tammy Albaugh found themselves listening to people's fears and concerns. They spent hours on the phone. "They wanted comfort, and we did our best to give them a sense that everything was going to be all right and we would get through this, but it would take a little time," Abell said. Finally, on Thursday of that week, the FAA began returning the Air Traffic Control System to service. The airport reopened, unlike others closer to Washington. Those within a 30-mile radius of the nation's capital had severe restrictions and were to remain closed indefinitely, Abell said. Aircraft owners were looking for a place to temporarily tie down their planes. They found the Frederick airport. "Some operators liked Frederick so well they decided to keep their airplane here," Abell said. "We were happy to have them stay." To see more of the Frederick News-Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fredericknewspost.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Frederick News-Post, Md. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |