Delta Air Lines Flight 1989
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 30, 1924 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
| Products | Air transportation |
| Website | www |
Delta Air Lines Flight 1989 was a scheduled nonstop morning journey on September 11, 2001, departing from Logan International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport aboard a Boeing 767-300ER. It was one of several flights suspected of being hijacked but ultimately landed securely at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Alleged hijacking
On the morning of September 11, 2001, two Boeing 767 aircraft departing Logan Airport—American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175—were seized in the September 11 attacks. Boston Center controllers observed that Delta 1989 was also a Boeing 767 operating a transcontinental flight from Logan and alerted the FAA at 09:19 EDT. The FAA directed the Herndon Command Center to inform Cleveland Center to advise Delta 1989 to enhance cockpit security.
Despite Boston Center losing radio contact with Delta 1989, the flight was actually within Cleveland's airspace and maintained communication with Cleveland controllers. Cleveland Center received orders to monitor Delta 1989 as a potential hijacking. A controller mistakenly believed he intercepted threatening messages from Delta 1989, which were later identified as transmissions from United Airlines Flight 93, flying nearby prior to its crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
After American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 09:37 EDT, Boston Center alerted the NORAD Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) about Delta 1989 at 09:41. At 09:42, the FAA mandated all airborne aircraft to land at their closest airports. NEADS deployed fighter jets from Ohio and Michigan to intercept Delta 1989; however, the flight continuously transmitted its transponder signal, allowing radar tracking until touchdown.
Arrival
Due to reports of a disruptive Middle Eastern passenger and communication errors between Boston and Cleveland centers, Delta instructed Flight 1989 to divert and land at Cleveland. The aircraft reversed direction near Toledo, Ohio, and safely touched down in Cleveland at 09:47, six minutes after Boston Center informed NEADS regarding Delta 1989. The FBI alongside local SWAT team evacuated the airport and held the plane on the tarmac for two hours. Following investigation, officials determined no threat existed aboard Delta 1989. The 9/11 Commission report highlighted that "Throughout the morning, multiple false reports of hijacked planes occurred. The initial false report was of American 11 heading south—after it had already crashed into WTC 1—followed by Delta 1989."
Integrated timeline
All times are given in EDT, with events derived from the official 9/11 Commission Report and public statements:
- 08:05: Departure of Delta Flight 1989 from Boston Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles.
- 09:19: FAA New England regional office contacts Herndon Command Center suspecting Delta 1989 might be hijacked because it originated from the same airport as two World Trade Center hijackers. Herndon instructs controllers to send a cockpit alert to Delta 1989.
- 09:32: A Cleveland controller reports hearing phrases such as "Get out of here" and "We have a bomb on board" from Delta 1989. The pilot denies any breach and confirms all passengers are safe.
- 09:41: Boston Center notifies NORAD Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) about suspicions concerning Delta 1989 shortly after American Airlines Flight 77 impacts the Pentagon.
- 09:42: FAA orders all airborne aircraft to land at their nearest airports immediately.
- 09:45: U.S. airspace is closed—no commercial flights permitted to take off, and all airborne commercial planes must land without delay.
- 09:47: Delta 1989 lands safely in Cleveland, Ohio.