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Rare substitution saves pilot from death on 9/11

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  • Description

    American Airlines' Steve Scheibner shares his story

  • Duration 3:19
  • Date

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September 10 2001 American Airlines pilots -- diners bags were packed and he was ready to go he was scheduled.

For a Boston to LA flight leaving the next morning at 7:45 AM -- had -- gotten on that flight.

He wouldn't be here today to tell us how a twist of fate and -- saving his life.

A rare last minute pilot substitution -- Steve from the trip putting more senior pilot Tom Maginnis in his place.

As we all know that plane never made -- telling -- American Airlines flight eleven was the first plane to hit the World Trade Center.

New book written by his wife called in my seat a pilot's story from September 10 to eleventh and he's my guest this morning.

Good morning to -- -- morning.

I can't imagine how you.

Went through the emotions of what happened to you that day after.

Knowing what happened to your colleagues -- who was actually in that plane was there a sense of guilt or how would you describe it.

Well at first when you find out the -- you just kind of stunned.

You know sort of in shock for a little bit.

Many do have a twinge of guilt.

But that panic goes -- is sort of quickly I think guilt is most often associated with some sort of manipulation.

And the circumstances that led to me being -- from the flavor outside of my control so.

I just felt sad.

Afterwards did you know that there's a family out there that it is very much like here -- that has just had a tremendous.

Loss in their family and in your hearts go out to them obviously.

You're a man of faith.

At that time and you decided to carry that even further in your life in what way.

But as pastor at a church up in Maine at the time and I pastor there for ten years.

I was busy with a congregation that.

Over the years the -- steadily on my hard to reach out to families and my wife and I now travel around the country.

Teaching parents he conference's I saw your lead in about the the crying baby that that's one of the things that that she and I -- specialize in.

We teach parents what we call the nine practices of the pro active parent.

And and we -- him through you know -- how to discipline their lives and their children's lives to help with the little things like trying if you know.

Well and you would know because you have eight children of your own.

-- or -- boys and four girls.

And in your still a pilot.

What goes through your mind every time you go in the cockpit now eleven years after this -- Well you -- you think about it especially when the anniversary comes around and I'm still based in Boston I still fly the Boeing 757767.

Airplanes.

Which -- the airplane a choice on 9/11.

I still walk down that gate at Boston that was the one that the terrorists boarded the airplane on and every time I walk down they did I just trying to stop -- a little prayer.

For folks and and kind of remember though the loss.

But at the same time pilots are also trained to compartmentalize and -- gotta -- put it behind yeah.

-- get on with the flight a -- or else you're not going to be as safe airman.

So one of the people are honoring today Tom McGinnis who was the gentleman who ended up sitting in that pilot's seat instead of you.

In your writing about it in your new book Steve Shatner and American Airlines pilot and commander in the US navy a former pastor.

And now the leader of a character group for parents you've -- the full life Steve thanks so much for being our guest thank you.

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