How much hysteria was there on 9/11? Or for that matter, December 7th, 1941?
There was a similar radio panic for a little while several years ago, January 13th, 1982, when an airliner crashed into a bridge across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., and flipped over and landed in the river. I was working about a mile or some from the airport at the time. It had started snowing mid-morning and eventually the plant closed and everyone started for home. I don't remember what time I left, probably no later than 11:00 AM, but I didn't get home until after five, the traffic and road conditions were so bad. Early in the afternoon there was news on the radio about the airplane crash. There was also a crash in the subway that afternoon and naturally the news sounded confusing. I imagine the radio people are under a lot of pressure to say something even if they have no idea what was happening. I likewise imagine the real cause of the airplane crash, which was caused by improper de-icing, was the pilot feeling the pressure from the passengers to take off and fly South.
There was a similar radio panic for a little while several years ago, January 13th, 1982, when an airliner crashed into a bridge across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., and flipped over and landed in the river. I was working about a mile or some from the airport at the time. It had started snowing mid-morning and eventually the plant closed and everyone started for home. I don't remember what time I left, probably no later than 11:00 AM, but I didn't get home until after five, the traffic and road conditions were so bad. Early in the afternoon there was news on the radio about the airplane crash. There was also a crash in the subway that afternoon and naturally the news sounded confusing. I imagine the radio people are under a lot of pressure to say something even if they have no idea what was happening. I likewise imagine the real cause of the airplane crash, which was caused by improper de-icing, was the pilot feeling the pressure from the passengers to take off and fly South.