around 9:00 a.m., then this gives rise to further questions.

The crash was first reported on television at 8:49 a.m. At that time, CNN announced that there were "unconfirmed reports this morning that a plane has crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center." A CNN producer then reported from New York, "I just witnessed a plane that appeared to be cruising at slightly lower than normal altitude over New York City and ... it hit directly in the middle of one of the World Trade Center towers." The plane, according to the producer, "looked like a two-engine jet, maybe a 737. ... A large passenger commercial jet." [28]

Since this critical information would presumably have been of particular interest to the leaders of the Air Force,hijacking was in progress. The U.S. military was first alerted to the hijacking at 8:37 a.m., when the Boston Center contacted NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector about it. [30] But it appears that no attempt was made to pass on the report of a suspected hijacking to the Air Force leaders in Jumper's meeting. The first notification they received that anything was wrong apparently came when they learned of the first crash at the World Trade Center.

CHIEF OF STAFF HEADED UPSTAIRS INSTEAD OF STAYING IN THE OPERATIONS CENTER

Even after his staff meeting adjourned, John Jumper appears to have continued acting inappropriately, as if he was still unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

The staff meeting was held in a room that was part of the Air Force Operations