![]() ![]() Stone Phillips: What’s the hardest part of each day now for you? Stone Phillips: If you could have spoken to Todd that day on the plane, what would you have said to him? I wouldn’t know for sure what had happened with Todd. Lisa Beamer: You know, if it wasn’t for Lisa Jefferson, I wouldn’t be here talking to you right now. And over the past year, they have stayed in touch. Four days after 9/11, the two Lisas spoke. It was Lisa Jefferson who heard him utter, “Let’s roll” to a fellow passenger as the counterattack began. In his 15 minute conversation with Lisa Jefferson, Todd described the desperate situation on board - and asked her to tell his family how much he loved them. And he thought Lisa would be better able to help him do that than I would, and he was right. He was just trying to do what he could to get out of there. And he was just trying to do the right thing. But he said he didn’t want to upset me unnecessarily. And as I talked to Lisa later on, she said he went back and forth quite a few times whether he wanted her to connect him to me or not, because she could have done that. I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t call me. And I’ve always been thankful that I didn’t speak to him. Todd: Hello… Operator…listen to me…I can’t speak very loud.Lisa Beamer: Yes, he spoke to Lisa that day. Lisa: Can you see any weapons? What kind of weapons do they have? Lisa: Can you tell me how many hijackers are on the plane? Lisa: (exhaling a deep breath to herself) I understand… Can the hijackers see you talking on the phone? We have a situation here….Our plane has been hijacked….can you understand me? I’m a passenger on a United flight to San Francisco. ![]() they don’t have guns….they have knives – they took over the plane with knives. Lisa: Can you tell what country these people are from? Todd: No, these are razor knives…like box cutters. They sound like they’re from the mid-east. Todd: Someone announced from the cockpit that there was a bomb on board. He said that they were meeting these men’s demands and returning to the airport… It was very broken English, and… I’m telling you…it sounded fake! He said he was the captain and to stay in our seats and stay quiet. Lisa: Now Todd, can you try to tell me exactly what happened? Lisa: Ok Todd….my name is Lisa…Do you know your flight number? If you can’t remember, it’s on your ticket. Todd: Two of the hijackers were sitting in first class near the cockpit. A third one was sitting near the back of the coach section. front got into the cockpit somehow there was shouting. Lisa: So is the door to the cockpit open? He’s got it tied to his waist with a red belt of some kind. ![]() Todd: No, the hijackers shut it behind them. they…they killed one passenger sitting in first class. We don’t know if the pilots are dead or alive. Lisa: Where is the 3rd hijacker now Todd? A flight attendant told me that the pilot and copilot had been forced from the cockpit and may have been wounded. They forced most of the passengers into first class. There are fourteen of us here in the back. He hasn’t noticed that I slipped into this pantry to get the phone. Lisa: Todd….are you ok? Tell me what’s happening! The guy with the bomb ordered us to sit on the floor in the rear of the plane……….oh Jesus. Todd: Hello….We’re going down….I think we’re going to crash……Wait – wait a minute. What’s going on with the other passengers? I think we may be turning around….That’s it – we changed directions. A few passengers with cell phones have made calls to relatives. She told him that hijackers had crashed two planes into the World Trade Center……Lisa is that true?Ī guy, Jeremy, was talking to his wife just before the hijacking started. Lisa: Todd….I have to tell you the truth….it’s very bad. Lisa: A third plane was taken over by terrorists. It crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC. Dear God…….Lisa, will you do something for me? Our country is under attack….and I’m afraid that your plane may be part of their plan. Todd: I want you to call my wife and my kids for me and tell them what’s happened. Todd: Our home number is 201 353-1073…….You have the same name as my wife…Lisa….We’ve been married for 10 years. Tell her that I love her…….(choking up).I’ll always love her.(clearing throat) We have two boys. (clearing throat again) Our baby is due January 12th….I saw an ultra sound….it was great….we still don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy………Lisa? David, he’s 3 and Andrew, he’s 1….Tell them……(choking) tell them that their daddy loves them and that he is so proud of them. Lisa: (barely able to speak) I’ll tell them, I promise Todd. ![]()
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