Victims' kin hopeful for reform

WASHINGTON -- Relatives of Sept. 11 victims say a commission's final hearing on the way the government responded as the 2001 attacks unfolded left them angered by missteps but hopeful for reform.

After a 1-year investigation, the Sept. 11 commission yesterday held its last hearing on the chain of events from the moment American Airlines Flight 11 took off from Boston at 8 a.m. to shortly after United Air Lines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m.

Some victims' family members dabbed their eyes and others shook their heads in disgust as the panel played Federal Aviation Administration tapes containing the hijackers' voices. It was the first time the tapes were heard publicly.

One tape captured confusion at the FAA, with an official saying, "Uh God, I don't know," when asked what to do about a hijacked plane. Accompanying graphics traced the flight paths of the four planes.

"It was extremely difficult to watch," said Mary Fetchet, who has attended many of the panel's 12 hearings.

Her son, Brad, died in the attacks on the World Trade Center.