Followed by "I Missed 'The Flight that Fought Back'"

A&E is months late with its contribution to the Flight 93 genre ("The Flight That Fought Back" aired to record ratings on Discovery last year). But it's making up for it this month with not only a docudrama but a companion special, "I Missed Flight 93."

I realize Flight 93 was a big deal, but do poor people who barely missed drowning after Hurricane Katrina merit their own documentaries? This seems a bit much. Press release on the jump.

THE CHILLING STORIES OF THREE PASSENGERS

WHO MISSED THE HISTORIC 9/11 FLIGHT

I MISSED FLIGHT 93

WORLD PREMIERE ON A&E NETWORK

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 10-11PM ET /9-10PM CT

NEW YORK, JANUARY 23, 2006 – On September 11, 2001, at least three ticketed passengers missed their flight – United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers took on the hijackers.   The original A&E Network documentary special I MISSED FLIGHT 93 premieres Friday, January 27, 10-11PM ET / 9-10PM CT.  A&E’s original movie FLIGHT 93, chronicling the heroic events on board premieres Monday, January 30 at 9PM ET and PT / 8PM CT. 

On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco was hijacked by terrorists. Passengers on board attempted to wrest control of the airplane and the plane crashed, killing everyone on board.  Frank Robertazzi of East Hanover, New Jersey was supposed to be on that plane.  He regularly took Flight 93 to fly to his business meetings in San Francisco.  So was Daniel Belardinelli. His uncle, William Cashman, perished in the crash. Belardinelli and Cashman were planning to fly out West  for a vacation.  So was Heather Ogle, who was booked for First Class, Seat 1A, only two seats away from the lead terrorist.

But just after 10am on the morning of September 11, when Flight 93 went hurtling to the ground, Frank, Daniel, and Heather were not on board. Through a series of unwitting decisions and quirks of fate, they narrowly escaped death.  Inter-cutting between their unique perspectives and the broader story of 9/11, I MISSED FLIGHT 93 illuminates the very thin line that separates life and death.