Investigators recount Flight 93 efforts
The lead investigators of the Sept. 11 crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Somerset County gave a recent presentation to help people have a better understanding of the event. The program was held Sunday night at Lighthouse Community Church in Washington County, where people packed the small sanctuary from corner to corner to hear the investigators tell the story of their experiences at the crash site. Pennsylvania State Police Maj. Lyle Szupinka, FBI Agent Wells Morrison and Pennsylvania State Police Capt. Frank Monaco spoke during the program.
Szupinka was the task force manager at the crash site and Monaco served as assistant task force manager.
According to Monaco, the format of the presentation was used to train police and agents.
They gave the presentation to the public partly as a memorial for those who passed on during the events, and partly because they wanted the public to see how much effort went into the investigation.
“After this presentation, I think you’ll have more confidence in our ability to act,” said Szupinka.
Morrison recalled how his day had started out the same as any other. “My secretary came in and told me a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and much like other Americans, I hoped it was an accident,” said Morrison. “When the second plane crashed, we knew immediately that it was no accident.”
He said that soon after, they were informed of an aircraft heading toward Johnstown that was not responding to air traffic control calls, but at the time they had no idea that it was related to the other events. It was not until they had a call from Belle Vernon police that reported a 9-1-1 call received in Westmoreland County that they knew that Flight 93 had been hijacked.
Morrison explained that after the crash occurred, police and FBI agents had to act immediately to investigate.
“At least 250 troopers were brought in that day, and we had about 150 FBI agents there. Everyone was there for the common good,” said Morrison.
“My first thought upon arriving was ‘where is the plane’ because you did not see anything that indicated that there was a plane that crashed,” he said
Morrison said that the plane had crashed straight into the ground in a very remote area.
“It inverted into the ground at a very high rate of speed. What you had was total devastation,” said Morrison.
Each investigator said that because the crash was thought to be the result of a terrorist attack, the crash site was immediately treated as a crime scene.
Monaco described what the scene looked like when they arrived.
He said that Indian Lake, which is nearby, was filled with debris, and the yards in the area were also covered.
Debris had been scattered for 5 to 8 miles in all surrounding areas of the plane crash.
“State police helicopters immediately confirmed that there were no survivors,” said Monaco.
Once the site was established as a crime scene, Szupinka explained that nothing could be taken from, or brought into, the scene.
Troopers and agents then had the difficult task of getting the many people that had gathered there, such as news media, ambulances, fire trucks, and the National Guard, and local citizens, to leave the area.
Szupinka elaborated on the appearance of the scene.
“Nothing could identify this as an aircraft,” he said. “There were no pieces any bigger than my laptop computer. Ninety-percent of the plane had gone into the hole where it crashed. There was no evidence of human remains.”
Szupinka mentioned something that has been circulating on the Internet about the scene of the crash, which some people have believed to be an urban legend.
“There was a Bible laying nearby to where the plane had crashed. It was burned and charred, and it was opened to Second Kings. I wanted to pick it up, but I just couldn’t do that. Some people thought that story was an urban legend but I saw it with my own eyes,” said Szupinka.
Monaco listed the immediate needs of their investigation as dealing with Bio Hazards, keeping integrity of the crime scene, establishing perimeters, obtaining electric power at the site, establishing communication, sanitation needs, and getting food and lodging for the investigators, as well as equipment necessary.
Szupinka said that four portable cellular towers were put up the first day, and hundreds of cellular phones were distributed among the investigators free of charge.
“We went from very little cellular coverage in that area to complete cellular coverage,” he said.
The investigators were grateful for all the help they received from organizations like Salvation Army and Red Cross, and the local restaurants that supplied them with food and water, as there was no place for food and lodging near the area.
“No one could go home,” said Monaco. “We all had to stay, and were grateful for all the help.”
They mentioned several companies like Motorola and Nextel, among many others who provided their services at no charge.
Szupinka said that after a few days, families of those lost in the crash visited the site to leave items such as letters and flowers for their departed loved ones.
First Lady Laura Bush and Lynn Cheney addressed the families, and there were several memorial services held for everyone involved with the investigation.
According to Morrison, most of the remains were identified by DNA, and all those in the crash besides the hijackers have been positively identified, although remains are still being found even now.
“Let there be no doubt that the passengers on Flight 93 were heroes. It crashed when they tried to retake it from the hijackers,” said Morrison.
The Rev. Dwayne Wolf said that the program let people see the capability and caring of our law enforcement.
“We learned something tonight about the quality and character of our state police and FBI agents, and it is very comforting to me, and I hope many others.”