The major television networks once again were compelled to ditch their
commercial schedule this morning following the crash of American
Airlines Flight 587 near John F. Kennedy Airport in Far Rockaway,
Queens, New York.
The anchors of the major morning news shows rushed
back to the studios to call in experts and correspondents to discuss the
crash and comment on its implications. The usual tape-delayed broadcasts
of their shows for the West Coast were scrapped.
About an hour after the
crash, ABC’s Peter Jennings, reporting that he was at the United Nations
when he heard about the tragedy, rushed back to ABC headquarters to head
up coverage there. However, NBC’s Tom Brokaw and CBS’s Dan Rather
deferred to the morning anchors, presumably waiting to learn whether
terrorism was suspected in the incident.
