Ben Sliney was one of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's National Operation Managers. His first day in this position was September 11, 2001, and he was responsible for ordering a National Ground Stop across United States airspace in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.[1]
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After two planes had crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, Sliney is credited with giving the order to land every plane in the air over the U.S. at the time, roughly 4,200 aircraft, and effectively shutting down U.S. airspace. This was an unprecedented judgment call, which the 9/11 Commission later denoted as an important and decisive act in the chaos of that morning. While Sliney made the decision on his own initiative, he did have the benefit of the advice of an experienced staff of air traffic controllers and traffic managers. Although it was his first day as National Operations Manager, his air traffic background already consisted of over 25 years of active air traffic control and management in the FAA. He had held various positions as an air traffic controller and first line supervisor at several major facilities and also Operations Manager and Traffic Management Officer at New York TRACON. Also, Traffic Management Specialist, National Operations Manager and then Tactical Operations Manager at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) and Regional office experience as Manager, Airspace and Procedures Branch, Eastern Region.
Sliney has since left the FAA to practice law.
Sliney was initially involved in the 2006 movie United 93 in an advisory role before being cast in a small role as an air traffic controller. Later, the film's writer and director, Paul Greengrass, offered him the opportunity to play himself.
Sliney also has a small role in Greengrass's 2010 film Green Zone.