9/11/01-- How were aircraft in flight informed?

[cheapfuel]

I have oftened wondered in what manner were the pilots in flight on 9/11 informed of the happenings as they were occurring. Did the atc folks broadcast in the open to all listening aircraft a general description of what had occurred, and the neccessity of bringing the existing flights down within a certain timeframe? Just what information was given to the aircrew? Were a/c nearing their destinations(within 1 hour or so), allowed to complete their flights? Were a/c dumping fuel, or flying around with geardown/dirty to get down to landing weight? How were the passengers informed? And what effects were on the folks that were forced to land at a location that was not their destination? Surely, there must have ben some rather unusual events, like folks being in a strange city with no money, or credit cards to carry them for a few days. Or senior citizens/disabled folks/unescorted children being dumped off . I do recall a story of three businessmen renting a large moving truck, to make a 300 mile trip, because there were no car rentals available. I tend to think that one day hopefully there may be a book written on some of these happenings relating to the aircrew notification, and the passengers being inconvienced for a few days.Would be interesting reading!-- Replies appreciated-Thankyou

[Jerricho]

And what effects were on the folks that were forced to land at a location that was not their destination?

I've got a buddy who works in Toronto Centre now, but was working at the Gander Centre when it happened. The community banded together and put up loads of stranded passengers in their own homes. He is still in contact with the English couple that stayed with him. I believe our Canadian guys and gals could share a story or two about some of the carnage, especially the over the pond traffic.

[BrightonGirl]

I've read a couple of wonderful websites about townspeople taking passengers into their homes in Iceland, Greenland, etc.

And photos of airfields with many, many planes parked -- they took in all they could handle.

I can't recall the sites, but if you Google this you'll find it.

I've been meaning, in fact, to try to find more of it when I have the time.

There was one moving account I read of an elderly couple being assured by the captain as they deplaned -- maybe Iceland, maybe Canada, I can't recall, but think it was the former -- that everything was going to be alright. The old man began to cry, and the captain asked why. The reply was "That's what they told us when they took us off the train at Auchwitz."