this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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It's my first day, how bad can it be? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago by lelgenio@lemmy.ml to c/memes@lemmy.ml
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[–] beckerist@lemmy.world 220 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Ben Sliney actually played himself in the movie United 93. It was his first day on the job, but he was pretty experienced, he previously ran all of New York City's air traffic.

I saw an interview with him maybe 15 years ago (sorry I can't find it now) but he grounded every plane in the US without approval from anyone above him on his first day as the FAA National Operation Manager (I believe he was at least 5 levels below the President).

Pretty incredible story but he knew how to react and executed the plan well.

edit: clarified some stuff and figured I should include his Wikipedia page too

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 71 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for sharing. That’s really interesting. Also, what a way to absolutely do great on your first day. Realize there’s a massive aerospace emergency, ground all flights without approval, because approval could mean the cost of more lives. Dude deserves some praise for what he did.

[–] MDKAOD@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Looking back at history, we're there other flights as attack vectors that a ground stop prevented from executing their plan? Or was a ground stop, albeit the correct course of action, pointless in preventing anything because the plan had already been executed in full?

[–] Land_Strider@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Even if there weren't any planned attacks at the moment, the preventive and protective actions are usually done regardless of the temporary costs.

Without going much political, I can say that move was one of the most critical ones, maybe right after preventing nuclear warfare, because I don't want to think how much worse the American retaliation in the last 20 years would be if there was even one more kamikaze plane, especially considering that we now measure warcrimes in magnitudes of 9/11.

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 10 points 1 year ago

As far as I can recall, no further attacks were prevented. I disagree with calling it "pointless", because it was the right decision given what was known at the time.

[–] nxdefiant@startrek.website 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Now imagine what it was like for the guy who took over his old job in New York on that day.

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 138 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I wonder if there was a moment where he was like, "oh haha, very funny guys. Sure it just crashed into the WTC, totally."

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 45 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Awesome prank Farva."

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Al Qaeda: "HAHA OH SHIT I GOT YOU GOOD YOU FUCKER"

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

"I swear to god I'll pistol whip the next guy that says 'jet fuel can't melt steel beams' ".

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey Farva, what's that conspiracy you love again? With the complete lack of physics knowledge and the mechanical engineering?

[–] KGB@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Jet fuel can’t melt steel beams?

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

[–] GreenMario@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

🔫

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Littering aaaaaand

Littering aaaaaand

Littering aaaaaand

Destroying the World Trade Center

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

it's just a prank bro. just a bit of light terrorism

[–] Jolteon@lemmy.zip 21 points 1 year ago

It's obviously just a hazing ritual they put the new guys through, right?.... Right guys?

[–] jeffw@lemmy.world 55 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Damn, can you imagine that being your first day? I assume he had already been through some kind of training or had some assistance in making the decision to ground air traffic

[–] ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 61 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Terrible first day, but he had a senior position at New York TRACON (which controls nearly all air traffic in New York) for years before getting the federal position. He was definitely experienced.

[–] Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Still a rough first day. I wonder if his relative inexperience in the position had any effect on the outcome of that day

[–] nik9000@programming.dev 15 points 1 year ago

Although it was his first day in charge, Sliney had an over-25-year background in air traffic and management in the FAA.

[–] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 49 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This guy is going to completely ace his next job interview.

"Tell us about the last time you had to solve a difficult problem"

"Yea got a funny story about that..."

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.de 29 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Think of better things that happened that day.

[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 12 points 1 year ago

That video really took me back, what a vibe. And so very Berlin.

[–] Inductor@feddit.de 9 points 1 year ago

That looks really cool.

[–] cashews_best_nut@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are you in Czech Hunter?

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Maybe. Which character do you think I am?

[–] derf82@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago

It was his first day in charge, but far from his first day with the FAA. He still had a lot of experience.

He also played himself in United 93.

[–] Sabre363@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 year ago

Trial by fire, literally.

[–] Holzkohlen@feddit.de 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Coincidence?
One word. This is why there will always be conspiracy theories I guess.

[–] Lemjukes@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yep I remember seeing this “cited” as a “dead giveaway” for the whole “inside job” theory.

[–] watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 year ago

You’d think they would make it less obvious than that if they wanted to hide a conspiracy.

Funny how they always think that there are some intricate hidden conspiracies, yet that they are obvious enough that some dumbasses on Facebook can figure it out.

[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Here's to the only funny joke in the entire CAD animated series: https://youtu.be/ePdibIRunUE

[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Out of the loop. Context please?

[–] shea@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 year ago

it came out on 911

[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

Look up the release date of lego star wars 2.

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[–] principalkohoutek@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

First day on a Tuesday (in a highly professional setting) is kinda weird

[–] Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 year ago

It wasn’t his first day, it was his first full day. His first day on Monday was likely getting his ID card etc. I’m sure people just like how it sounds saying it was his first day instead.

[–] SVcross@lemmy.world -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just hope he didn't bombed his first day.