Resilient New Yorkers unfazed in travel plans

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 | 8:22 a.m.

Jack and Nancy Haines retired five years ago from a brokerage firm and now travel a lot. They hopped on a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Las Vegas Monday shortly before another plane crashed just minutes after leaving JFK.

Arriving at McCarran International Airport and learning of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, which had 255 people on board, the couple initially thought the tragedy was a result of a terrorist act, similar to those of Sept. 11.

Regardless of whether the crash was the result of terrorism or mechanical failure, the Haines and other resilient New Yorkers aboard America West 193 -- one of the last to leave JFK before that airport and two others were closed in the wake of Monday's crash -- said they will continue to travel by air.

"If I let things like this keep me in my home, then the terrorists have won," said Jack Haines of Long Island, N.Y. For many years Haines worked in the financial industry in an office across from where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

"We're shocked, dismayed and saddened by this, but you have to be tough when you live in a metropolitan center," Nancy Haines said. "We enjoy traveling, and we will continue to travel. You have to leave it up to your faith in God."

Mike Torrellas, who also was on America West 193, said if he wants to keep his pharmaceutical job he has to fly about five times a year.

"We really don't have a choice (about flying) because we also have to go home, and I will be on a plane (back to New York) Friday," the Long Island resident said. "I guess it's true that we New Yorkers are resilient. We're just not going to be taken down by terrorists."

Another Long Island man who took the same America West flight but declined to give his name said, matter-of-factly, that "Accidents happen."

JFK, Laguardia and Newark airports, all closed by the Federal Aviation Administration after the early-morning crash, reopened Monday afternoon.

McCarran spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said 11 New York- and New Jersey-bound nonstop flights were scheduled out of Las Vegas Monday. The McCarran website listed nine flights from New York and New Jersey to Las Vegas.

Also, McCarran had two one-stop flights to New York and New Jersey: United Airlines 406 to Denver to Laguardia and Continental 410 to Houston to Newark.

Three Las Vegas non-stop flights, put on hold early Monday, were in the skies after lengthy delays: National Airlines Flight 300 for JFK, scheduled to take off at 9:10 a.m., left at 11:36 a.m.; Continental 569, scheduled to leave for Newark at 9 a.m., was in flight at 11:38 a.m.; Continental 769, slated to take off at 9:05 a.m. for Newark, was in the air at 12:55 p.m.

Throughout the day, the remaining nine non-stop flights to New York and New Jersey took off, although some were a little late. For example, National Airlines 304, scheduled to leave at 12:40 p.m., took off at 1:13 p.m. for JFK, and National 674, slated for departure at 12:40 p.m., took off at 1:10 p.m. for Newark.

Grey said the airport did not tighten security but rather remained on the same level of heightened security it has maintained since the Sept. 11 attacks. However, people taking outbound flights said it seemed as though airport officials were checking bags more carefully than usual.

Many of those traveling to New York Monday after spending the Veterans' Day holiday weekend in Las Vegas went to the airport not knowing whether their flights would leave that afternoon.

A number of their attempts to reach airline ticket desks after watching the events unfold on television Monday morning resulted in busy signals.