Bush Recalls 10 Minutes When White House Thought Flight 93 Was Shot Down

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 10

George W. Bush said the White House spent about 10 minutes on 9/11 believing the U.S. military had shot down United Airlines Flight 93.
Condoleezza Rice said that fear followed Bush's order, relayed through Vice President Dick Cheney, to shoot down any plane that failed to identify itself as officials rushed to ground civilian flights nationwide.
Bush and Rice described making those decisions from a bunker while coordinating the domestic response, with Rice saying the episode showed how quickly life-and-death calls had to be made under pressure.
The account came at a Texas event ahead of the attacks' 25th anniversary, where Bush also unveiled 16 paintings for a commemorative display at the Bush Museum through September.