The Haines airport remained closed for a second day Wednesday following the hijacking and crash of four commercial airliners on the East Coast Tuesday morning.
Nationwide security measures resulting from the disaster impacted local transportation, mail, border, cruise ship and medical clinic operations, and Haines residents with New York City connections spent much of the day trying to reach friends and family.
The hijacked planes crashed into and destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City and heavily damaged the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth crashed in central Pennsylvania.
Thousands are believed to have been killed in the worst terrorist act in U.S. history.
Local commercial airlines Wings of Alaska and L.A.B. Flying Service, charter airlines and private pilots suspended operations Tuesday morning after the flying ban was imposed.
Federal Aviation Administration flight standards office manager Terry Gordon said Wednesday Alaska FAA Region officials are working on a plan to allow commercial fights for essential services to outlying areas.
“In Southeast, everything is closed. We are working on a plan to get approval for some operations to go out and get hunters and fishermen, or to deliver food, things that are critical.”
Local airlines closed or short-staffed offices Wednesday. L.A.B. Flying Service office staffer Peggy Ormasen said she spent most of the day answering the phone. “We only had six or seven people on our schedule today. Most of the people we had for Juneau just went on the ferry.”
Alaska Marine Highway service was unaffected by the disaster. State ferries maintained their normal schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday with heightened security measures in effect. Access to baggage carts was limited to ticketed passengers, no visitors were allowed on board, vehicles were closely inspected, and unattended bags were not allowed in ferry terminal buildings.
Cruise lines stepped up security in Skagway Tuesday, and at least two lines canceled Sunday Skagway stops due to the air-travel ban. Carnival Cruises’ Carnival Spirit is delaying, and Holland America Line’s Westerdam is canceling voyages because passengers can’t get to Vancouver in time for the ship’s Thursday departure.
the cancellation means lost business for local tour and transporation companies, said Haines tourism director Michelle Glass.
Tour excursion representatives and visitors were not allowed on Princess Cruises’ ships docked in Skagway Tuesday.
The flight ban halted the flow of mail around the country.
Haines postmaster Wayne Selmer said the Haines post office put out its last batch of first class mail Tuesday afternoon. The last catalogs and other second and third class and bulk mail were in post office boxes Wednesday, he said.
Selmer said when mail service resumes, it will be without the backlog that occurs during weather delays. “It wouldn’t really pile up because it’s not a delay between Juneau and Haines. It’s more like an everywhere delay.
The FAA announced Wednesday it would not allow mail or cargo on commercial passenger planes when the flight ban lifted.
Post office spokesperson Nancy Schmidt told the Juneau Empire Wednesday the Postal Service would charter planes to carry mail to Alaska if needed.
U.S. Customs and Immigrations officials at the Dalton Cache border station took extra time to check vehicles and identification Tuesday under “Code One” heightened security status. “We’re looking more closely at IDs and opening more trunks, doing a little more though searches,” said immigration inspector Dan Quarrell.
Customs and Immigration official Judy Ewald said a typical border inspection under “Code One” takes about five minutes, rather than the one minute usually required. “When you count having to look in fifth wheels, it takes a little longer. It’s not a big deal as long as everybody’s got their proper documentation,” Ewald said.
Canada Customs is demanding at least two pieces of identification to get across the border, said customs official Marinka Darling.
“A driver’s license and a voter identification card, social security card, birth certificate, or passport. We’re heightening examinations as well.”
Although the flight ban has delayed shipment of blood samples from the Haines medical clinic to Lower 48 labs, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium has clearance to operate medevac flights in its twin-engined Piper chieftain if needed, according to clinic administrator Marcia Scott.
The Haines Borough School District canceled an open house Tuesday and the Chilkoot Indian Association closed its office. Haines schools, municipal offices and most businesses remained open.
Residents gathered at noon Tuesday to reflect on the disaster. About 50 residents and clergy attended a brief prayer service at the Presbyterian Church.
In reaction to the terrorist act, Wilma Henderson said, “We shouldn’t be surprised, because anything can happen anytime, but we are in shock.”
Henderson added, ” When I found out about what happened, my stomach dropped. What happened was evil personified.”
Marge Matthews also attended the service. “It’s hard to believe people could do that cruel a thing to innocent people. I felt the shock even though it was so far away. My feelings were similar to how I felt when I heard about the Alaska earthquake in 1964 – numbing,” Matthews said.
Tuesday was a day filled with anxiety for residents with friends or relatives in New York. Avi Gillett said his sister Jenny fled her Lower Manhattan workplace after the first of the World Trade Center towers was hit. “She was two blocks away. She saw the second plane hit and started running up Broadway.”
Gillett’s father’s wife was trapped in her Manhattan workplace for six hours before she escaped the area unharmed, Gillett said.
At least one Haines resident had to wait for word from relatives on an incoming international fligtht hat wasn’t allowed to land in the U.S. due to security reasons.
Joanie Wagner’s daughter Lelania and husband were on an India Air flight from Longdon to Chicago Tuesday morning that was turned back over the Atlantic.
“She was pretty upset. All the pilot told them to land anywhere in America. Immediately she thought they were being hijacked because it was so unbelievable.”