[narby]

Too bad not one of the controllers had the sense to step outside with a handheld radio and notify the airliners what was happening.

Wouldn't have worked. Centers handle aircraft over several states, most of which are too far away to contact directly.

I don't doubt that was the problem here. The remote radio relay system crapping out.

[snopercod]

Here's how it would have worked: The guy with the handheld would contact an airliner within line of sight, and ask that airliner to contact the next one in line and "pass it on".

At altitude, you can easily reach another airliner 200 miles away.

I'm only a private pilot, but I have relayed messages from ATC to other aircraft before. It works.

Also, the first thing the airliners should have done was to contact somebody - anybody - and have them call ATC on the landline.

As a last resort, they fly the flight plan as filed, weather permitting.