United Airlines cancels Denver 9/11 memorial flyover

United Airlines has canceled a planned aerial tribute in Denver intended to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The ceremony was set to feature a Boeing 777 escorted by four Colorado Air National Guard F-16 fighter jets.

The flyover was designed to honor the pilot community, with flight times and locations specifically synchronized to mirror the events of September 11, 2001. However, the plan faced significant public criticism and concerns from local authorities regarding potential panic or emergency service overload due to the sound and sight of military escorts over populated areas.

Despite the cancellation of the flyover, United plans to proceed with other memorial activities. These include a moment of silence at Denver International Airport and the unveiling of a 9-foot, 11-inch monument at the airline’s Denver Flight Training Center, constructed from steel recovered from the World Trade Center.