Denver’s Office of Emergency Management had been coordinating notifications to residents and preparing for how the public might respond to the proposed aircraft tribute.
DENVER — United Airlines has called off a planned 9/11 memorial flyover in Denver, Colorado, that would have included a Boeing 777 accompanied by fighter jets on Friday.
The planned aerial display drew comparisons to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, when military jets were launched in response to hijacked passenger planes over the United States. It had been timed for 9:03 a.m., marking the moment terrorists crashed United Flight 175 into the South Tower of New York City’s World Trade Center.
United announced the cancellation at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, roughly two hours after 9NEWS reported on preparations underway to brief emergency dispatchers and alert the public about the scheduled flyover.
The airline said it will still hold 9/11 remembrance events for employees at its Flight Training Center and at Denver International Airport.
“As part of these events, the airline had also planned an aircraft flyover, a meaningful gesture to honor the memory of those lost within the pilot community, but will suspend those plans due to concerns in the community and instead carry on with the other events of the day,” spokesperson Russell Carlton said in an email.
Before the cancellation, the City of Denver was warning emergency dispatchers, first responders and the public not to panic at the sight of the planned commemoration.
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Denver Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Loa Esquilin-Garcia said the city was trying to prevent 911 and 311 lines from being overwhelmed with calls from concerned residents worried about a hijacked plane on Friday as America marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorism attacks.
Colorado Air National Guard spokesperson Chance Johnson said the military jet approval was still being “reviewed at the state level.”
Carlton said he was not aware of other cities planning similar flyovers with passenger planes accompanied by fighter jets. Carlton said the flyover was planned at the request of United leadership in Denver, where the airline has a hub and training center.
He also said the flyover was planned as part of a private remembrance ceremony for United employees that is not open to the public. There was no comment about how close the flyover would come to high-rise buildings in downtown Denver.
The office of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said the city was not asked whether the flyover was a good idea.
“We were informed by United they were doing this, not asked,” said Johnston spokesperson Jon Ewing.
A news release announcing the flyover, before it was canceled, said a United Boeing 777 would be “followed by four F-16s in formation from the 120th Fighter Squadron.”