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Excerpts from radio traffic between the plane circling Frankfurt threatening to hit a building...Start of recording: 15:60h. Steven (the pilot) asks for a connection to CNN.
TOWER: Steven, we can't reach anybody at CNN. Can it be another TV station?
PLANE: Okay. If you can't get CNN here, try CNN USA.
TOWER: We have the phone numbers of CNN in Frankfurt or Berlin, but they don't answer the phone.
PLANE: I don't believe that.
TOWER: We keep trying, we keep trying...
PLANE: Evacuate the EZB, please (EZB=European Central Bank).
TOWER: Repeat.
PLANE: Evacuate the EZB.
TOWER: Yes.
TOWER: (switching the phone to loudspeaker, you hear the answering machine of CNN "This is CNN Broadcasting. Our offices are not open at the moment...
TOWER: Steven...??
PLANE: Contact NTV, the german news station.
TOWER: We need the phone number.
TOWER: Steven, do you have a phone on board?
PLANE: Yes, but the battery's empty.
TOWER: Empty?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Steven, NTV isn't open either, they also have their answering machine switched on.
PLANE: What about the BILD newspaper (BILD = German boulevard press paper)
TOWER: Do you have the number?
TOWER: We're trying to find the phone number of Philipp Resnik.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: I think we're in contact with NTV in Berlin. If you want to speak to them, speak slowly, we have to switch between the phone receiver and the radio mic.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Yes, hello, is this NTV Berlin? Please hold the mic farther away, it's too loud.
TOWER: It's too loud.
TOWER: Is this NTV Berlin?
NTV: Yes, this is NTV Berlin.
PLANE: This is Franz Strambach speaking, a great fan of Judith Resnik, Judith Resnik who died back in 1986 when the space shuttle exploded.
NTV: Yes, can you quickly tell us where you are now?
PLANE: I'm circling over Frankfurt and will end my life today and go to Judith...
NTV: Okay... you want to end your life?
PLANE: Too loud, softer please.
PLANE: I just want to say that I love Judith very much and I also have my homepage in the internet done for her: www.judith-resnik.info
NTV: Yes, you know, you are over Frankfurt?
PLANE: Yes over Frankfurt.
NTV: Do you want to put people in danger?
TOWER: Steven, did you get that? I will manage this from now on, first you, then the other one, else it won't work... so that one speaks after the other one.
TOWER: The NTV representative may speak now.
NTV: You want to end your life and thus put the life of other people in danger?
PLANE: Good, now tell me what he said, I can't hear him.
TOWER: So, please repeat again, NTV, repeat again.
NTV: He wants to end his life. Is he aware that he's putting other people's lives in danger?
PLANE: I've already said I want the EZB evacuated.
TOWER: Steven, again.
PLANE: I've already said I want the EZB evacuated.
NTV: What's the purpose of this? We here don't understand that...
PLANE: I want to make the world aware of Judith Resnik.
NTV: We don't understand how this would be the right way...
TOWER: Steven...
TOWER: Steven...?
PLANE: Yes, I want to make the world aware of Judith Resnik, because nobody notices her anymore.
NTV: Certainly this is the wrong way, you're endangering other people.
PLANE: I don't want to endanger other people.
NTV: You can't avoid that this way.
PLANE: Do you know Judith Resnik?
NTV: No, to be honest, I don't, no...
PLANE: She was a Challenger astronaut.
NTV: Yes, the astronaut who died back then?
PLANE: I'm a great fan of hers, and I hope that we can get together, after so many years...
NTV: Yes, but why in this way?
PLANE: This is the only way to make people aware of her.
NTV: Tell me some more about Judith Resnik.
PLANE: She was an astronaut, born 1949, and died 1986 in the Challenger catastrophe.
NTV: Why is this lady so important to you?
PLANE: Because I love her...
NTV: No, I don't think you love her...
PLANE: I was a great fan of hers even when I was 14 years old.
NTV: That's not unusual, to be a fan of hers...
PLANE: Yes, I never forgot about her since then, everybody else did. I have now my homepage on www.judith-resnik.info
NTV: Why are you interested in this lady?
PLANE: She was a great woman, Jewish and she was the first Jewish astronaut
in the world.
NTV: How are you going to go on now?
PLANE: Well, I'm gonna do something to make her known... Judith Resnik, I mean.
TOWER: May I make a suggestion, Steven? If you land your plane here in Frankfurt now, you've got more publicity than when you fly into some building...
PLANE: I don't want to fly into a building, that I won't do...
TOWER: Well, then, I suggest you land your little plane here at Frankfurt Airport for once. How about it?
PLANE: But, I want this to be public. She won't be known by such a simple landing.
TOWER: She'll be more than known by this landing, the whole airport is shut down.
PLANE: I'd prefer a broadcast about Judith Resnik on NTV.
TOWER: Well, then listen for a moment, they're just telling me they're trying to go live with you. The problem is, it goes back and forth all the time. They would be very happy to continue the dialog after the landing.
PLANE: About Judith Resnik?
TOWER: The NTV lady said, of course about Judith Resnik.
TOWER: Continue, are you going to land now?
PLANE: I want to talk to Charles Resnik now.
TOWER: Alright.
TOWER: We have the connection, but on another phone. We're trying to put you through.
PLANE: Excellent!
TOWER: We're working on it, it's difficult. The technicians have to help. The call has been routed to another office, somebody's trying to put the call through to here.
TOWER: As said, just a moment... the call was interrupted. We're trying to call the US again.
CHARLES RESNIK: Charles Resnik speaking...
PLANE: I have to apologize, I should've asked before making the homepage. I've made a big mistake.
TOWER: All clear, I've got Charles Resnik on the phone, and I would like to handle the call, as I did before.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Charles goes first.
CHARLES RESNIK: Hello, Charles Resnik speaking...
PLANE: Yes, hello, this is Franz Stramback. First I would like to apologize for the homepage, I made it without asking you first.
PLANE: Can you tell me the name of Judith's dog?
CHARLES RESNIK: You mean our family dog?
PLANE: Yes, the family dog.
CHARLES RESNIK: Tracy.
PLANE: T. r . a . c . y. ?
CHARLES RESNIK: Yes, Tracy
PLANE: This is incorrect. The dog's name was Stacy.
CHARLES RESNIK: Okay, I can't remember the name exactly, we had two dogs at the time.
PLANE: Can you then tell me the names of the three Musketeers?
CHARLES RESNIK: ????
PLANE: Can I talk to Judith's father?
CHARLES RESNIK: That is impossible, he had a heart attack.
[The protocol gets garbled, but obviously the hijacker asks about Judith Resnik's grandmother.]
PLANE: Okay, and how old was she?
CHARLES RESNIK: When she dies she was 60.
PLANE: And the other grandmother, how old was she?
CHARLES RESNIK: The other grandmother dies when she was 96.
PLANE: Alright, I have positively identified Charles Resnik. Tell him, I never wanted to be a threat to his family. I've got the feeling the Resnik family is not okay with this.
TOWER: Charles has never seen this homepage.
PLANE: Ah, okay. Ask him what could make her [Judith] more popular in Europe, in his opinion.
CHARLES RESNIK: This question can't be answered in a few words.
TOWER: Hang on.
PLANE: Alright.
TOWER: Steven, did you ever hear about the Challenger Space Science Education Center?
PLANE: Yes, but that is not in Europe, it's in the US. She's my idol, and I want to make her famous all over the world.
TOWER: Charles says, they're planning such centers all over Europe, also in Germany.
PLANE: That's okay. Ask him... eh... eh... just a moment, please. Say again, please. Ask him if... eh... eh... a moment please. Ask him if he's loved her all through the years.
TOWER: Can you repeat this question, please?
PLANE: Ask him if he's loved her all these years.
TOWER: Steven.
PLANE: Yes?
TOWER: He says, yes, because she was his sister.
PLANE: Okay, that is good.
TOWER: Steven?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: It's getting dark. At most half an hour until it's completely dark. Don't you want to land on Frankfurt Airport now?
PLANE: Yes, I'll think about it.
TOWER: Yes, think about it. The whole airport is at your disposal. Absolutely no traffic there.
PLANE: Judith was a great woman, tell him that.
TOWER: He [Charles Resnik] says, he'd like to talk to you after your landing. It's pretty difficult now, with the mic and the loudspeakers.
PLANE: I know, that's okay. Ask him, if he could look at the homepage.
TOWER: Okay.
PLANE: Ask him, who Philipp Resnik is. Is that his nephew?
TOWER: Steven?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: He says he's never heard that name before.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Steven, Charles Resnik is sitting at his computer now and is online with the homepage. It is Judith-Resnik.info. Is that correct?
PLANE: It's a link page. Ask him what he thinks of it.
TOWER: Hang on... Eh, Steven. It takes some time until he's looked at it, because there's a lot of things on it. And a lot of information.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: He'll take some time to dig through it. And, Steven, is there anything special he should look out for?
PLANE: Nah, it's alright... what is he thinking, what's he saying to me loving his sister still? It's not a normal love, it's a platonic love. What does he think?
TOWER: Just a second, Steven. Charles says, sometimes we lose people we love, and we must keep their memories in our minds.
PLANE: What does he think about my platonic love for her? And my try to keep her memory fresh by means of a homepage?
TOWER: Charles askes: Is this your homepage? Did you assemble all that information?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Charles says, he thinks you did great work.
PLANE: Does he think, Judith would see it that way, too? Ask him.
TOWER: Okay... Steven, he says, he thinks Judith would be proud of it.
PLANE: Oh, that's good. Thank you.
TOWER: What about the landing?
PLANE: Yeah, I still have some time. Ask him if he will work with that homepage, after I've landed, and if he wants to make it a great Information and Science site in Judith's name. For the children, and all the people in the world.
TOWER: Steven, he says, he'd like that. And he will contact people to help you.
PLANE: I want him to put scientific articles and maybe also Judith's works on it, to keep the memory fresh.
TOWER: He says, he'll do that.
PLANE: Okay... and... ehm... ask him whether... ehm... is he... just a moment. Ask him about his father. And tell him, I admire how he educated Judith. He's a great man. And ask, if I can talk to his father.
TOWER: Steven... Charles says thanks, but he [the father] had a heart attack, but Charles would like to continue talking to you after your landing. Do you realize I told you that you've only got kerosene for about
20 minutes?
PLANE: Okay. Can't his father be reached for a conversation?
TOWER: He can't, he's had a heart attack.
PLANE: Ah yes, I see.
TOWER: Did you understand that you've only got kerosene for 20 minutes? You should slowly think about flying to the airport.
PLANE: Tell him, I wish his father gets well soon.
TOWER: Charles says thank you.
PLANE: And tell him that children are the most important think for our future and that Judith could do a lot for the education of children all over the world. We should make www.judith-resnik.info an education facility for children all over the world.
TOWER: Steven, Charles says, he agrees.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Steven, what are we going to do now? Don't you think it would be a good idea to fly towards the airport?
PLANE: Tell him, I love his father, and him, too. Robin and Charles Resnik. I love them too, and they're very good people. And... ehm... I love Judith very much.
TOWER: Hang on... Steven? Charles says, thank you very much.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Steven? The heading for the airport is 210 degrees. Steven... Steven, do you see the airport? Please fly heading 210. Steven?
PLANE: I will always love Judith. I think she was a very great woman.
TOWER: Steven!
PLANE: Yes?
TOWER: Steven, Charles says, he'd really like to talk to you after the landing.
PLANE: Yes. But we also have to do the homepage together, then.
TOWER: He promised that, didn't he? Steven, report your heading.
PLANE: I'm slowly getting back to Frankfurt Airport.
TOWER: Right, heading 210, please.
PLANE: Ask Charles Resnik. This whole matter was stupid. Does he think it was bad for Judith's image?
TOWER: Just a second... Steven? Steven - Charles says, it wasn't bad for her image, because [garbled] and he'll continue working with you.
PLANE: On the homepage?
TOWER: On the homepage.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Steven, report your heading.
PLANE: I'm going towards the runway.
TOWER: Can you see the airport?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Wind is [garbled] knots, you can use any runway you like. Steven, your heading looks fine. Keep it up, maybe 10 degrees to the right.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Do you see anything that looks like landing lights?
PLANE: No idea.
TOWER: Do you have any experience on such a plane?
PLANE: None.
TOWER: Does this mean, you can't do this? Land correctly?
PLANE: I'll have to see.
TOWER: Well, okay. Let's see if we can do this together. Let's see... how high are you now?
PLANE: Well, I know how to fly a Cessna, from earlier on.
TOWER: Well, if you can fly a Cessna, you'll have no problems landing this box. Steven, can you report your speed? What does the speedometer show?
PLANE: Ehm... sec... oh, 50 km/h.
TOWER: Then you should accelerate a bit. Do you see the runway?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Then head for it. How high are you now?
PLANE: Ehm... sec... 2600 ft.
TOWER: 2600 ft? Not 1600 ft?
PLANE: It says 2600 ft here.
TOWER: Then you can start your descent. Ease off the accelerator and start descent.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: So, and can you turn to the right, please and align with [garbled]? Steven, are you descending? Report your altitude please!
PLANE: 2400 ft.
TOWER: You should slowly start thinking about descending.
PLANE: I'll fly another circle, okay?
TOWER: Circle to the left, excellent. Steven you should put the blue handle on position one. The blue one on the left, left of you, position one.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Report altitude.
PLANE: 2000.
TOWER: Yes, this looks good. You can continue your descent. Do you know what a [garbled] looks like? And what's your rate of descent?
PLANE: 500.
TOWER: That's excellent. Altitude?
PLANE: 2000.
TOWER: Don't you want to descend?
PLANE: Heading 360?
TOWER: Yes, do that, 360 to the left. Steven, what are your instruments showing?
PLANE: Ehm...[garbled]
TOWER: Now please keep your rate of descent of 500. Steven, what runway are you heading for? Left or right?
PLANE: Right.
TOWER: Excellent. Steven, report your altitude.
PLANE: 1200.
TOWER: Continue descent, keep your speed, just fly towards the runway. I'll tell you when to take back the power.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Report altitude.
PLANE: 1200.
TOWER: Would you put your nose down a bit? Yes, that's right, slowly downward. Steven?
PLANE: Yes?
TOWER: Take power back completely now.
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Did you?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Just pull the handle all the way back. Report altitude.
PLANE: 1000.
TOWER: You're doing that very well. This will work. Leave the nose where it is, power all the way out, and just fly towards the middle of the runway.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Steven, does your plane have retractible wheels?
PLANE: I don't think I put them down.
TOWER: Well, you should think about putting the wheels down sometime.
PLANE: I think they're out now.
TOWER: Then it's okay. Now... just turn off the engine. Now pull back the nose a bit, just slightly upwards. Hold it like that, until it touches down. So, Steven, you're doing this very well. Just hold her now, don't do anything, don't do anything. And then, just to the left, once you're slow enough, just take a left.
PLANE: Okay.
TOWER: Now, stop the plane, turn off the engine, switch off everything. Did you shut down all systems?
PLANE: Yes.
TOWER: Open the door and show us your hands.
posted 06-29-2005 06:28 AM
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