Lisa Jefferson interview (May 11, 2004); FBI report of investigation, interview of Lisa Jefferson, Sept. 11, 2001;
Richard Belme interview (Nov. 21, 2003).
ents of calls from Jeremy Glick, Sept. 11, 2001, through Sept. 12, 2001; Lyzbeth Glick interview (Apr. 22, 2004).
Experts told us that a gunshot would definitely be audible on the CVR.The FBI found no evidence of a firearm
at the crash site of Flight 93. See FBI response to Commission briefing request no. 6, undated (topic 11).The FBI
collected 14 knives or portions of knives at the Flight 93 crash site. FBI report,"Knives Found at the UA Flight 93
Crash Site," undated.
85. FBI reports of investigation, interviews of recipients of calls from United 93. For quote, see FBI report of
FDR and CVR data.At 9:55:11 Jarrah dialed in the VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR) frequency for the VOR
navigational aid at Washington Reagan National Airport, further indicating that the attack was planned for the
nation's capital.
87. Ibid.
88. Ibid.
89. Ibid.The CVR clearly captured the words of the hijackers, including words in Arabic from the microphone
of the microphone in the pilot headset, and the corresponding manipulations of flight controls provide the evi-
dence.The quotes are taken from our listening to the CVR, aided by an Arabic speaker.
"11-Hour Hijack Ends Without Injury in N.Y.," Los Angeles Times, Feb. 12, 1993, p. A1.
the FAA focused on setting and maintaining safety and efficiency standards. Since no plane had been hijacked inside
the United States since 1991, sabotage was perceived as the most significant threat to civil aviation. For a broader
discussion of the perception of the threat, see section 3.3.
view (Sept. 30, 2003). For general information on approaching terminals, see FAA report,"Aeronautical Informa-
tion Manual," Feb. 19, 2004. Times assigned to audio transmissions were derived by the Commission from files
provided by the FAA and the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) based on audio time stamps contained within
the files provided by the sender. FAA tapes are certified accurate to Universal Coordinated Time by quality assur-
ance specialists at FAA air traffic facilities. NEADS files are time-stamped as accurate to the Naval Observatory
clock.We also compared audio times to certified transcripts when available.
96. NORAD's mission is set forth in a series of renewable agreements between the United States and Canada.
"aerospace control" for North America. Aerospace warning was defined as "the monitoring of man-made objects in
space and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or
space vehicles." Aerospace control was defined as "providing surveillance and control of the airspace of Canada and
the United States." See DOS memo, Exchange of Notes Between Canada and the United States Regarding Exten-
sion of the NORAD Agreement, Mar. 28, 1996; see also DOS press release,"Extension of NORAD Agreement,"
June 16, 2000 (regarding the extension of the 1996 Agreement unchanged). For NORAD's defining its job as
defending against external attacks, see Ralph Eberhart interview (Mar. 1, 2004).
98. For assumptions of exercise planners, see Paul Goddard and Ken Merchant interview (Mar. 4, 2004). For
Stewart's plane in 1999 after the pilot and passengers lost consciousness, see Richard Myers interview (Feb. 17,
2004). A 1998 White House tabletop exercise chaired by Richard Clarke included a scenario in which a terrorist