On Friday, United Airlines plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by flying a Boeing 777 low over Denver while being escorted by fighter jets… reminiscent to what we saw on September 11, 2001. Guys, am I losing my mind, or is the airline? This can’t be serious, can it?
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Denver warns public of bizarre United 9/11 flyover plans
JonNYC flags how United plans to have a 9/11 commemoration in Denver, in the form of a Boeing 777 flying low over the city, being escorted by fighter jets. The display is scheduled for 9:03AM, coinciding exactly with the time at which terrorists flew United flight UA175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.
Denver’s Office of Emergency Management was reportedly notified of the United flyover last week, and has been warning emergency dispatchers and first responders. This is so that the public doesn’t panic about this display, so that 911 and 311 lines aren’t overwhelmed with calls from citizens concerned about a hijacked plane.
A Colorado Air National Guard spokesperson has said that the military jet approval is still being “reviewed at the state level.” Meanwhile a United spokesperson has said that similar flyovers aren’t planned in other cities, but clarified that this was planned at the request of United leadership in Denver, where the airline has a hub and training center.
9NEWS asked a United spokesperson if they had considered the public’s reaction to seeing a passenger plane escorted by fighter jets on 9/11, to which they responded that the flyover is part of a private remembrance ceremony for United employees, and that it’s not open to the public — “we are doing this for United employees and personnel.”
The spokesperson declined to answer questions about how close the flyover would come to high rise buildings in downtown, noting that the path could change due to “weather or lots of things.”
The press release from the airline explains that the United Boeing 777 will be “followed by four F-16s in formation from the 120th Fighter Squadron.” The plan is for the 777 to take off from Denver Airport at 8:15AM, along with the fighter jets, and then fly over United’s flight training center, roughly 13 miles away, at 9:03AM. All planes are supposed to land within 75 minutes, by 9:30AM.
Who approved this plan, or am I the only one who is confused?
Guys, I realize we all grieve and process things differently, but is there anyone who doesn’t find this to be insanely tone deaf? Like, what am I missing here?
I’d like to think I usually see things from both sides (to a fault), but commemorating hijackings by flying a plane low over the ground while being escorted by fighter jets seems… not good? I would type other words to describe this, but I try to keep this site G-rated.
In the future are we going to commemorate the anniversary of the Amazon Air crash here in Miami by flying a Boeing 767 low over some cars? I’m not at all trying to be humorous about the terrible tragedy we just had, but this strikes me as being equally absurd, which is why I think it’s a point that’s important to make.
Then when asked if the airline had thought of the public’s reaction, United’s response is basically along the lines of “well we’re not doing it for the public, we’re doing it for us.” Really, that’s the excuse?
It just seems like commemorating one of the darkest days in America by doing something reminiscent of what happened on that day isn’t the correct way to commemorate things. Was this planned by an intern who wasn’t around to witness 9/11? Or what AI tool did United use to plan this event without human oversight?
For what it’s worth, I just asked a friend who is a captain at United about this, and his response was short — “WTF.”
Bottom line
While it’s good to commemorate the tragedy of September 11, 2001, United Airlines is going about it in a very strange way. The airline plans to fly a Boeing 777 low over the ground, while being escorted by fighter jets. I just can’t make sense of this, and it strikes me as being insanely tone deaf.
The city is having to warn citizens not to call 911 or 311 if they see this display. And when the airline was asked if they were worried about the impact this has on others, they said the display isn’t for others, but is for United employees.
I simply have no words here…
What do you make of United’s 9/11 commemoration plans?
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