9/11 flight numbers were used again by Chicago's United and Continental airlines. Flight service unions criticized the airlines for reinstating those numbers because they were retired after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
United, which is merging with Continental, apologized on its Facebook page for "inadvertently" bringing back flight numbers 93 (on Sept. 11, 2001, Flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field) and 175 (the flight number of the jetliner flown by terrorists into the World Trade Center's South Tower), USA Today reported Wednesday.
According to UPI.com, the Air Lines Pilots Association, which represents United's pilots, said the reinstatement "demonstrates an absolute and blatant disrespect of the pilots, crew and passengers who lost their lives on that date."
The airlines' parent company, United Continental, said the error occurred during efforts this week to coordinate service and branding, the newspaper said.
"How could these flight numbers have been 'inadvertently reinstated' as the company indicates? The pilots of United Airlines expect accountability of how these flight numbers were considered in the first place," said Capt. Wendy Morse, an ALPA member.
The attendants' union said it "implores the airline to respond quickly out of respect for the flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents and passengers who lost their lives on those flights as well as all of the families, friends and colleagues who still grieve the loss of our heroes."
