United Airlines has canceled a planned 9/11 commemoration that was set to feature a Boeing 777 flanked by fighter jets flying over the city.
According to 9News, planned flyover in commemoration of the 9/11 attacks has been canceled in Denver following concerns over the event and questions about coordination between United Airlines, local authorities, and the Air National Guard.
The display on Friday, reminiscent of scenes on September 11, 2001 when fighter jets were scrambled to intercept hijacked planes in the skies above the United States, was scheduled to coincide with the moment at 9:03 am when terrorists flew United Flight 175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.
United said memorial events open to the airline's employees will be held at the airline's Flight Training Center, and at Denver International Airport.
"As part of these events, the airline had also planned an aircraft flyover, a meaningful gesture to honor the memory of those lost within the pilot community, but will suspend those plans due to concerns in the community and instead carry on with the other events of the day," spokesperson Russell Carlton said in an email.
Before the cancellation, the City of Denver was warning emergency dispatchers, first responders and the public not to panic at the sight of the planned commemoration.
Denver’s Office of Emergency Management was notified of the planned flyover last week and began preparations with emergency dispatchers and first responders, according to Denver OEM spokeswoman Loa Esquilin-Garcia.
Esquilin-Garcia said the city was trying to prevent 911 and 311 lines from being overwhelmed with calls from concerned citizens worried about a hijacked plane on Friday as America marks 25 years since the 9/11 terror attacks.
Esquilin-Garcia told 9News that Denver Police, Denver Fire and EMS were notified by Denver OEM last Friday.
She said Denver OEM reached out to the City of Aurora and the State of Colorado on Tuesday “so nobody got blindsided.”
Esquilin-Garcia said Denver Parks and Rec staff had also been briefed in case the public began to gather in open spaces.
Denver was 'not asked'
The office of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said the city was not asked if the flyover was a good idea.
Johnston spokesperson Jon Ewing said, “We were informed by United they were doing this, not asked.”
“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,” Ewing said.
The City of Denver said it was mobilizing citizen notifications via newsletter, employee bulletins, social media posts and media outreach, and had planned to place a prominent banner on the city’s webpage.
