The actions of the Flight 93 passengers who stormed the cockpit to take on the Qaeda terrorists who had seized their plane proved an inspiring rallying point for a stunned nation.
"We stand behind the conduct and actions of our flight crew, and we understand and appreciate the feelings of the passengers on board, including those who took steps to protect themselves and others," said Linda Rutherford, a spokeswoman.
Actions of the flight attendants saved almost all lives.
His actions, along with the actions of the flight crew, are partially credited for saving the lives of the survivors.
The investigation, while praising the actions of the flight crew for saving lives, would later identify the cause of the accident as a failure by United Airlines maintenance processes and personnel to detect an existing fatigue crack.
"The aircraft would not have arrived safely in Singapore without the focused and effective action of the flight crew," the bureau's chief commissioner, Martin Dolan, told reporters Friday in Canberra, Australia's capital.
Most incidents are the result of actions by flight crews or maintenance staff and are unrelated to airworthiness, the companies and regulators said.
As one pilot, who'd faced a plane crash in the Vietnam War, put it: "when the nose-wheel strut collapsed I vividly recalled, in a matter of about three seconds, over a dozen actions necessary to successful recovery of flight attitude".
I am particularly moved by the actions of those aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who, in the face of certain death, took quick action and successfully avoided having their aircraft possibly become the fourth airborne bomb on Tuesday.
