"How light?"
"Crew of eleven. Two passengers."
By midnight, the entire air traffic system was in total chaos. Empty airplanes sat idly in major hubs awaiting passengers that never came. Pilots and flight crews waiting for instructions as take-offs from airports all but ceased. Overbooking was so rampant that police were called into dozens of airports to re- store order. Fist fights broke out and despite pleas for calm from the police and the airlines, over 200 were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, assault and resisting arrest. Tens of thousands of passengers had confirming tickets for flights that didn't exist or had left hours before.
Arriving passengers at the international airports, LAX, Kennedy,
San Francisco, Miami were stranded with no flights, no hotels and
luggage often destined for parts unknown. Welcome to the United
States.
The FAA had no choice but to shut down the entire air transporta- tion system at 2:22 A.M.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 27
National Security Agency
Fort Meade, Maryland
"Did you get the President to sign it?"
"No problem. Public opinion swung our way after yesterday."
"And now?"