Ben Sliney

Ben Sliney was one of the FAA's National Operation Managers. He famously started in this position on September 11, 2001 and was responsible for ordering a full ground stop across American airspace in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. [ [http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=20603&in_page_id=11 "60 SECONDS: Ben Sliney"] ]

Actions on September 11, 2001

After two planes had crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, Sliney is credited with giving the order to land every plane in the air over America at the time, roughly 4,200 aircraft, and effectively shutting down American airspace. This was an unprecedented judgment call, which the 9/11 Commission later denoted as an important and decisive act in the chaos of that morning. While Sliney made the decision on his own initiative he did have the benefit of the advice of an experienced staff of air traffic controllers and traffic managers. Although it was his first day as National Operations Manager, his air traffic background consists of over 25 years of active air traffic control and management in the FAA. He had held various positions as an air traffic controller and first line supervisor at several major facilities and also Operations Manager and Traffic Management Officer at NY TRACON. Also, Traffic Management Specialist, National Operations Manager and then Tactical Operations Manager at the ATCSCC and Regional office experience as Manager, Airspace and Procedures Branch, Eastern Region.

United 93 feature film

Sliney was initially involved in the 2006 movie "United 93" in an advisory role before being cast in a small role as an air traffic controller. Later, the film's writer and director, Paul Greengrass, offered him the opportunity to play himself.

Sliney had worked as an air traffic controller for several years but left the FAA to practice law.

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*imdb name|2214842