Tom Burnett: The Flight 93 Hero and His Four Calls Home
On September 11, 2001, Tom Burnett made four calls to his wife, Deena, in just 24 minutes. These calls, made from rows 24 and 25 of United Airlines Flight 93, transformed a hijacking into a passenger-led counterattack. The aircraft ultimately crashed at 10:03:11 AM, approximately 20 minutes before it would have reached its intended target. Burnett, a 38-year-old executive, had switched to this earlier flight to be home for his twin daughters’ first day of kindergarten.
The events of that morning on Flight 93 are among the most documented in American history. The FBI recorded 37 phone calls from the plane, and the 9/11 Commission provided a detailed timeline of events. The cockpit voice recorder also survived, allowing for a precise understanding of what Tom Burnett knew, when he knew it, and the decisions he made.
The Flight He Was Not Supposed to Be On
Thomas Edward Burnett Jr. was born in Bloomington, Minnesota, on May 29, 1963. He excelled in academics and sports, playing quarterback for his high school football team. After college and earning an MBA from Pepperdine, he became the chief operating officer of Thoratec, a company that developed heart pump devices. Burnett traveled extensively for his work, balancing a demanding career with his family life. He was married to Deena Burchfield, and they had three daughters.
Burnett was on the East Coast for business during the week of September 11, 2001. He had planned to fly home later in the week but decided to take an earlier flight, United 93 from Newark to San Francisco, to attend his daughters’ first day of kindergarten. The flight was delayed by over 25 minutes due to morning congestion, a delay that proved to be a critical factor in the events that unfolded. By the time the hijackers made their move at 9:28 AM, other hijacked planes had already struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Flight 93 was the only one where passengers had enough time to learn about the attacks and react.
Four Calls in Twenty-Four Minutes
Of the 37 calls made from Flight 93, only two were from mobile phones. The remaining 35 calls were made using the seat-back Airfone system, which provided a billing record detailing the time, number dialed, duration, and the seat row from which the call was made. Tom Burnett’s four calls, logged from rows 24 and 25, were part of this record. His assigned seat was in row 4, indicating he had moved to the back of the cabin with other passengers.
The sequence of Burnett’s calls reveals his evolving understanding of the situation and his growing resolve to act.
Call 1: Reporting the Hijacking
In his first call, Burnett informed his wife that the flight had been hijacked, that a passenger had been stabbed, and that the hijackers claimed to have a bomb. He urged her to contact the authorities.
Call 2: Learning About the Attacks
During his second call, Deena told him about the World Trade Center attacks. This information dramatically changed Burnett’s perspective. He realized the hijacking was not just a hostage situation but a suicide mission, and he relayed this terrifying realization to those around him.
Call 3: Building a Plan
By the third call, Burnett was no longer seeking help from the outside. He expressed the need for the passengers to take action themselves, stating, “We have to do something. We can’t wait for the authorities . . . It’s up to us. I think we can do it.” He named three other passengers who were working with him: Mark Bingham, Todd Beamer, and Jeremy Glick.
Call 4: Detailing the Plan
In his final call, Burnett explained their plan: they would wait until the plane was over a rural area before attempting to retake control. He reassured his wife, “Don’t worry, we’re going to do something,” before the line went dead.
What the Cockpit Recorder Heard
At 9:57 AM, a passenger’s voice was heard on the cockpit voice recorder stating, “Everyone’s running up to first class. I’ve got to go. Bye.” This marked the beginning of the passengers’ assault on the cockpit. Over the next six minutes, the recorder captured the sounds of a struggle for the cockpit door. Hijacker Ziad Jarrah attempted to disorient the passengers by pitching the aircraft up and down, but the passengers persisted. At 10:00:26 AM, a clear passenger voice was heard saying, “In the cockpit. If we don’t we’ll die!” This was followed by another voice saying, “Roll it!”
Around 10:01 AM, Jarrah asked another hijacker if they should land the plane. The response was affirmative. At 10:02:23 AM, the order “Pull it down! Pull it down!” was heard. The counterattack continued until the aircraft impacted a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, at 10:03:11 AM, traveling at 580 miles per hour. All 44 people on board perished.
Twenty Minutes from Washington
United 93 was the only one of the four hijacked planes where the hijackers lost control of the cabin. It was also the only flight that departed late. The crash site was approximately 20 minutes of flying time from Washington, D.C. The 9/11 Commission concluded that Jarrah’s intended target was either the U.S. Capitol or the White House. The commission noted that Jarrah “was defeated by the alerted, unarmed passengers of United 93.” Military intervention was not possible, as the military was not informed of this specific hijacking until after the plane had already crashed.
The passengers of Flight 93 had only about 24 minutes of warning, no weapons, and no formal training. Despite these limitations, they used the time they had to mount a defense. The subsequent changes in aviation security and border control were made with the benefit of hindsight, a luxury the passengers of Flight 93 did not have.
The Twenty-Five Years Since
In the aftermath of the attacks, Tom Burnett was honored in numerous ways. His former high school football team wore his number on their helmets. His parents and sisters established the Tom Burnett Family Foundation to support youth leadership and citizenship. Scholarships were created in his name, and streets and bridges were dedicated to him in the California towns where he lived and worked.
The legacy of Tom Burnett and the passengers of Flight 93 is not marked by grand monuments but by initiatives that foster education and community service. These include scholarships at various educational institutions and leadership programs. His name is also inscribed on the National September 11 Memorial in Manhattan.
As of 2026, there is a movement to name a new stadium at his alma mater, Jefferson High School, in his honor. This reflects the enduring impact of his bravery and the desire to remember his sacrifice through actions that benefit future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tom Burnett on Flight 93?
Thomas Edward Burnett Jr. was a 38-year-old executive who was on United Airlines Flight 93. He was traveling home to his family in California when the plane was hijacked. Burnett played a key role in organizing the passengers’ resistance against the hijackers.
How many times did Tom Burnett call his wife from Flight 93?
Tom Burnett made four phone calls to his wife, Deena, over a period of approximately 24 minutes. These calls provided crucial information to his wife and helped coordinate the passengers’ actions.
What did Tom Burnett say in his last phone call?
In his final call, Tom Burnett told his wife that the passengers were planning to take back the plane. He reassured her by saying, “Don’t worry, we’re going to do something,” before the call ended.
Why was Tom Burnett on Flight 93?
Burnett was not originally scheduled to be on Flight 93. He switched to this earlier flight to ensure he could be home in time for his twin daughters’ first day of kindergarten.
What was Flight 93’s target?
The 9/11 Commission determined that the intended target for Flight 93 was likely either the U.S. Capitol or the White House in Washington, D.C. The plane crashed in Pennsylvania before reaching its destination.
How do we know what was said on Flight 93?
Information about the events on Flight 93 comes from multiple sources, including FBI records of phone calls made from the aircraft and the cockpit voice recorder. The 9/11 Commission used these records to create a detailed reconstruction of the flight’s final moments.
Where is Tom Burnett buried?
Tom Burnett is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota. Visitors continue to visit his grave, especially on September 11th, to pay their respects.
What is the Tom Burnett Family Foundation?
The Tom Burnett Family Foundation was established by his family to promote youth leadership and citizenship. The foundation provides scholarships and supports educational programs, continuing Burnett’s legacy through positive contributions to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tom Burnett on Flight 93?
Thomas Edward Burnett Jr. was a 38-year-old executive who was on United Airlines Flight 93. He was traveling home to his family when the plane was hijacked and played a key role in organizing the passengers’ resistance.
How many times did Tom Burnett call his wife from Flight 93?
Tom Burnett made four phone calls to his wife, Deena, over a period of about 24 minutes. These calls shared critical information and helped coordinate the passengers’ actions.
What did Tom Burnett say in his last phone call?
In his final call, Tom Burnett told his wife that the passengers were planning to take back the plane. He reassured her by saying, “Don’t worry, we’re going to do something,” before the call ended.
Why was Tom Burnett on Flight 93?
Burnett switched to this earlier flight to be home for his twin daughters’ first day of kindergarten, as he was not originally scheduled to be on Flight 93.
Conversation
0 Comments