9/11 started as a normal day for me as the GM of JFK.
I had gotten to work at about 0700 as that was an early day as we always did a drive around construction review starting at 0800. We had been doing the drive around since my arrival as GM six months earlier and it provided a good update on the many construction projects underway. I remember that we were ending the drive close to the long term parking lot which had a great view on a clear day of the WTC, and it was a clear day.
There must have been at least six people in the van and as we were just completing the drive, and we all noted what looked like smoke coming from one of the towers. We immediately thought that a small plane may have hit one of the towers and we immediately returned to our offices to find out what had happened.
Our greatest concern was for the PA staff in the tower but also for the other tenants. I would have immediately called the Director's office but knew that Bill Decota and other senior staff were in Canada at an ACI World meeting. I also found out later that they had made a valiant effort to return by air but found that all flights were cancelled and they finally rented a car and drove back to NYC.
I immediately contacted our police desk and the FAA and by 0910 all the information called for us to stop all flights in and out of JFK and other PA airports and this remained in effect til Thursday afternoon when the first international flight landed after massive diversions and cancellations. The final decision to reopen was made with our COO, Ernesto Butcher and input from Washington DOT and others.
During the two plus days, we and all involved agencies were concerned about other possible terrorist events happening, including a report that an American Airlines flight might have been the target of a hijack attempt.
The time that we were closed still hummed with activity as the airports coordinated our response to the events and to see when we could restart operations. I did not leave the airport til Friday morning when I was able to see my family including talking to a daughter who was attending Georgetown University in Washington D.C., which was another site impacted by the terrorists.
The next two weeks were filled with the attendance at funerals of PA folks and families who had lost loved ones in the tragedy and I can remember each one of them vividly. The very first one was on Long Island for one of the police officers who lost his life at the site and it was a very moving event. JFK's police commanding officer plus other police from JFK, who responded to the towers, were lost and it was an honor attending services for each of them and other PA staff who I knew and will always remember.
With the destruction of the towers and return of Bill Decota, it was decided that for an unknown period of time, that the Aviation Department would be located at JFK and the next month was taken up setting up all the requirements for that to happen.
I also wanted to note that before coming back to JFK, I was located at the WTC and a prime responsibility of that position was to respond to the EOC which would have placed me in a location that I am sure no one survived.
May we all remember the events of that day and cherish the memory of all who were lost.
Alfred Graser
