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On September 11, 2001, Thum was responsible for overseeing airspace operations and personnel in Area D. This included managing air traffic, ensuring the personnel were adequately trained, and adhering to FAA regulations. In an average day, his responsibilities involved maintaining safe separation between aircraft and responding to any operational errors.
The Morning of September 11, 2001
Thum began his shift at 7:00 a.m. and was alerted to a possible hijacking shortly after 8:00 a.m. When American Airlines Flight 11 lost communication and deviated from its flight path, Thum began to suspect a hijacking situation. The fact that the transponder was turned off further supported his concerns.