Who destroyed the audio tape after 9/11

[Tim4319]

Does anyone know who destroyed the audio tape recording of the air traffic controllers from 9/11? What ever happened to the person?

[meow2u3]

1. I don't know about the fate of the audio tape, but....

...one thing is certain: whoever destroyed it got a promotion!

[disinfo_guy]

2. Some sort of "private contractor" that was an "efficiency expert"

If I remember correctly. In other words, some sort of mole in the bureacracy. Yet another story that drops like a rock.

[Vickers]

3. Just a rumor, but I heard it was

Bill Clinton.

:P

story here

[DenverDem]

4. The official apologism is that the interviews were "against union rules"

so the tapes were destroyed to "protect the workers".

This works for busholini inc two ways. First, it destroys incriminating evidence, and second, it will be used to demonize unionism.

[AP]

7. I'm so sure that investigations of crimes trump whatever's in their union

contract.

[DenverDem]

10. You would think so

but the professional disinformation official story apologists around here will disagree.

[MercutioATC]

17. I believe that that statement was originally made by me, and it's not

been repeated completely accurately. What I said was (in response to a poster who asked why a tape would be destroyed) that the interview may have been conducted without union representation present, which could be a breach of contract. I also said that I wasn't familiar with this individual case.

I freely admit that I don't know why it was destroyed, especially in such a bizarre manner. What I do know is that these same people were interviewed multiple times, so I don't see where the actual loss of the tape is a concern.

[MercutioATC]

13. The tape is immaterial. The controllers are still around.

All anybody'd have to do is interview them again (which is what they did).

[Cassandra]

5. Someone from the FAA

destroyed an audio tape that controllers were encouraged to make about their experiences that day before putting their reports in writing (they don't normally make tapes). I'm sure the destruction is about the FAA's allowing the airlines to cover their asses after they refused to implement the security recommendations of the Gore Commission.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. FAA Manager Mangled, Cut, Destroyed 9/11 Tapes

By Liz Swaine
Newswriter, Editor

Information provided to the commission investigating the U.S. government's response to terrorist threats prior to September 11, 2001, names an FAA quality manager in the destruction of an audiotape made in the aftermath of the 9/11 hijackings. Each of at least six air traffic controllers and some ten other employees who were on the job at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., during the World Trade Center attacks gathered several hours after to recall their version of events. But that tape, which could have helped determine how the agency responded to clues that four planes had been hijacked, was destroyed before it was ever heard. In fact, officials at the ARTCC were never even told of the tape's existence.

According to the report given to the 9/11 Commission by Department of Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead, the audiotape was crushed in the hand of the unnamed FAA employee, then cut into small pieces and tossed into different trash cans around the ARTCC building. Despite the fact that the quality assurance officer had been told to retain all records pertaining to 9/11, he told inspector general investigators he destroyed the tape because he felt making it was contrary to FAA policy, which calls for written statements. He is also quoted to have said the controllers "were not in the correct frame of mind to have properly consented to the taping" because of the stress of the day, and told investigators that faced with a similar situation, he would repeat his actions.

www.avweb.com/newswire/10_20a/briefs/187259-1.html

[blueknight]

8. this dont pass the smell test

but then again, what within this administration does?

[DenverDem]

11. As always with busholini inc, it passes the smell test for

excrement.

[disinfo_guy]

9. "quality assurance officer"

yep

[WFF]

12. Is Rose Mary Woods still around?

[put out]

14. We are on the same page, though, in knowing that

the tape you are referring to is not the tape of communications with the aircraft, other facilities, and other air traffic controllers and supervisors, right? That tape would have been transcribed and stored, every communication preserved. So we realize this, correct?

So this other tape, the one destroyed, is what? Wasn't it interviews or discussions with some of the controllers after the incident? Maybe that would be helpful to have, maybe not. It doesn't sound like any official tape recording was made, and therefore destroying it would not be in violation of standards.

That's my take. I used to be in the business of transcription and records retention for the FAA. They, I hope, did preserve the recordings, all of them, for 15 minutes before any contact with the aircraft (including communications from other facilities) until 15 minutes after last contact (also including communications with other facilities). This would also include telephone conversations with military, supervisor to supervisor, etc.

If someone knows different, correct me. But my understanding remains that all communications are taped and preserved for 15 days unless the regs have changed a whole lot. For me it used to mean, watch your language on the phone, folks.

[MercutioATC]

16. Nope, put out, you have it right...it's not a data tape.

It's an interview tape with controllers who were interviewed again later. Goofy behavior from a QA specialist, but hardly a big deal.

[thecrow]

15. Some jerk at the FAA....

Threw it in multiple wastebaskets!!!!