A planned flyover in commemoration of the 9/11 attacks has been canceled in Denver after what appears to be a breakdown in coordination between United Airlines, local authorities, and the Air National Guard. The event was to involve a United jet escorted by F-16 fighters in honor of the 25th anniversary of the tragic event.
Denver’s Office of Emergency Management had begun sending out notices to prevent confusion after concerns arose that the display could appear to be a real hijacking. According to 9 News, United spokesperson Russell Carlton stated that the flyover was not open to the public and was planned as part of private events being held at the airline’s hub and training center in Denver.
UA’s Plan For An Aerial Homage To The Victims of 9/11
The plan was for a United Boeing 777 to take off from 
Denver International Airport (DEN) at 8:14 AM, the same time that UA175 departed from 
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) before it was hijacked. The widebody jet would then fly over UA’s Flight Training Center at Quebec Street and 35th Avenue, roughly 13 miles away on the north side of the city, less than an hour later.
The timing of the flyby was set for 9:03 AM, the same time that UA175 crashed into the World Trade Center South Tower. The airliner was to be escorted by four F-16 Fighting Falcons of the ANG’s 120th Fighter Squadron.
Guard spokesperson Chance Johnson’s last update before the cancellation was that the plan was still under review at the state level. The city was apparently making efforts to accommodate the flyover, but the office of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said, “We were informed by United they were doing this, not asked.” Spokesperson Jon Ewing elaborated to 9 News:
“We fully support honoring the victims of 9/11 as well as first responders. However, we know this might be unexpected or jarring and so our Office of Emergency Management has been working to get the word out, so people aren’t surprised.”
Coordination Breakdown Causes A Failure To Launch
United has decided not to proceed with the flyby following the difficulties with its proposal, including “concerns” from local community members. The Denver area is home to about three million citizens. The city’s emergency team expected that about one million residents would require notification in advance of the event. 9 News directly asked UA’s spokesperson if the airline had considered the public reception, which was deflected by referring to the flyover as a private event.
To any aviation enthusiast, it is apparent that a low-flying 777 flanked by four fighter jets would have a significant presence over the entire area of its flight path. The huge twin-aisle, twinjet’s engines alone are some of the most powerful turbofans ever produced. Meanwhile, even while flying at low power, the combined noise of four F-16s would be heard for miles. It would also be a very high-visibility flyby with such a formation at low altitude over a densely populated area.
Never Forget: 25 Years After The Deadliest Attack On America
Although the plan for the flyover was unsuccessful, it is understandable why pilots and leaders of the carrier would want to set up a grand way of honoring the lives lost 25 years ago, considering United’s deep connection to the terrible events of 9/11. During the September 11 attacks, a total of 16 crew members and 84 passengers were killed on the two flights operated by UA.
On that fateful day, 11 crew members and 76 passengers also lost their lives on American Airlines Flight 11, which was the first plane to hit the towers. The Boeing 767 flying as UA175 was the second jet to make an impact following Flight 11. Later that day, six crew members and 53 passengers were also killed when a 757 operating AA Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
As the anniversary of the attacks draws near, there will be major events at the National 9/11 Memorial and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Even with its flyby canceled, United is unveiling a monument crafted from steel recovered from the World Trade Center Ground Zero site at its training facility, dedicated to the crew of Flight 175 and Flight 93.
