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Wait a sec. We had two jets in the air by 8:52 but too late to do anything about the plane heading for the Pentagon, which struck almost an hour later, at 9:40, or UA #93, which crashed almost an hour and a half later. I am not reassured by this picture of our air defense. Does this worry anyone else?

Depends... What time did the FAA realize that Flights 77 and 93 were hijacked? I would say that would be a determining factor.

Sorry, I didn't spot your post earlier.

Depends... What time did the FAA realize that Flights 77 and 93 were hijacked? I would say that would be a determining factor.

Checked lots of press stories and timelines - found nothing definitive on these two flights. However, when the FAA realized these flights were hijacked isn't really the determining factor since highjacking is not a necessary condition for an intercept.

Interception is indicated when a plane a) loses communications and/or b) goes off the flight path it's required to file before take-off, because it keeps a plane in trouble--for whatever reason--from straying into the flight paths of other aircraft.

AA #77 lost radio contact at 8:50 and lost the transponder at 8:56. Shortly thereafter it left the flight path. UA #93 lost communications at approx. 9:20 and there were two quick radio transmissions from the hijackers at 9:22, so sometime soon after 9:22 the plane left the flight path.

AA #77 hit the Pentagon at 9:45, about 49 min. after losing communications. UA #93 crashed at 10:10, about 50 min. after losing communications.

Data is taken from your posts on the "Gutsy Cabin Crew" thread.