MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) - September 11th, 2001 began as a routine day for Air Force One pilot Col. Mark Tillman. The day before the plane had touched down in Florida, where President George W. Bush was making a statewide education tour. However, as the President made his way to an elementary school in Sarasota the next morning, no one, including Col. Tillman could imagine what would happen next. Tillman was sitting in Air Force One when he got the word.

“It’s kind of crazy, with all the communication the military has, the first notification came over the news wires. ABC, NBC, CBS, the Today Show, and many others were commenting on how the first tower had gotten hit.” Says Tillman.

Tillman and the crew aboard Air Force One immediately began making preparations. President Bush had wished to return to Washington, however, while preparations were being made, plans were changed after news that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon. Instead, the crew flew President Bush to secure locations in Louisiana and later Nebraska.

Tillman says that while he and the Military had trained extensively for a variety of scenarios like nuclear attacks, this situation was different than those they had prepared for.

“This was an attack from within the country, so we had to kind of make things up as we went along. We weren’t exactly sure what the plan was.” Says Tillman

Tillman says one of the strangest aspects of flying on 9/11 was being the only aircraft in the sky. The FAA had grounded all commercial aviation.

“It’s an eerie feeling, normally you hear multiple radio calls from controllers and other aircraft, once all the aircraft were put on the ground, it was quiet. We were the only plane in the sky.” Says Tillman.

Now, eighteen years after 9/11, Tillman says he hopes the country remains vigilant to ensure an event like the terrorist attacks never happen again. ling, normally you hear multiple radio calls from controllers and other aircraft, once all the aircraft were put on the ground, it was quiet. We were the only plane in the sky.” Says Tillman.

Now, eighteen years after 9/11, Tillman says he hopes the country remains vigilant to ensure an event like the terrorist attacks never happen again.