9.11.21 – 20 Years Ago Today: Remembering the Victims of September 11, 2001

Saturday, September 11, 2021

20 Years Ago Today:
Remembering the Victims of September 11, 2001

Twenty years ago today, Flight Attendants served as the first first responders and sounded the alarm on an unfolding attack of epic proportion. These heroes relayed information from the cabin of the hijacked airplanes, warning air traffic controllers, Flight Service management, and the world below.

Betty Ong relayed information with a phone call to the American Airlines reservation center in North Carolina. Betty informed the reservations agent of the unfolding hijacking aboard Flight 11 from BOS to LAX.

Eleven minutes later, Amy Sweeney, also aboard Flight 11, was able to connect with BOS Flight Service for almost twelve minutes to describe what was happening, along with providing crucial information regarding the identity of the hijackers.

Onboard United Airlines Flight 175 from BOS to LAX, Flight Attendant Robert Fangman connected with airline personnel in San Francisco to alert authorities on the ground.

Renee May, onboard American Airlines Flight 77 from IAD to LAX, also connected with American Airlines personnel to inform them of the dire situation onboard, moments before the flight crashed into the Pentagon.

Onboard San Francisco bound United Airlines Flight 93, Flight Crewmembers and passengers made several calls to airline officials and family members and successfully diverted that aircraft from its intended target, presumably the US Capitol, saving countless lives.

The terrorist attacks resulted in at least 2,977 fatalities and over 25,000 injuries. Every day we remember the bravery of the twenty-five Flight Attendants and eight Pilots on board the four airplanes. The victims and all of the first responders who risked their lives without hesitation are our heroes.

“On this twentieth anniversary of the attacks on our nation on September 11th, we remember the heroism displayed by the Flight Attendants onboard American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, and United Airlines Flight 93,” said APFA National President Julie Hedrick. “These Flight Attendants were America’s first responders- they provided invaluable information and notified the world about what was happening onboard, and they fought until the end. September 11th changed our careers forever, and the bravery and heroism displayed by these twenty-five Flight Attendants provided us the courage and the resiliency to step back on the airplane to do what we do best- keeping our skies safe. We will never forget these twenty-five first first responders who paid an ultimate price.”

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8:46 a.m.: En route from BOS to LAX, hijackers crash American Airlines Flight 11 into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower (1 World Trade Center). All 92 people on the Boeing 767 aircraft died in the crash — 11 crew members and 81 passengers; 5 of them were hijackers.

BOS-based Flight Attendants

Barbara Arestegui
Jeffrey Collman
Sara Low
Karen Martin
Kathleen Nicosia
Betty Ong
Jean Roger
Dianne Snyder
Madeline Amy Sweeney

BOS-based Flight Deck

John Ogonowski
Thomas McGuinness

 

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9:03 a.m.: En route from BOS to LAX, hijackers crash United Airlines Flight 175 into floors 77 through 85 of the South Tower (2 World Trade Center). All 65 people on the Boeing 767 aircraft died in the crash — 9 crew members and 56 passengers; 5 of them were hijackers.

BOS-based Flight Attendants

Robert J. Fangman
Amy N. Jarret
Amy R. King
Kathryn LaBorie
Alfred G. Marchand
Michael C. Tarrou
Alicia N. Titus

BOS-based Flight Deck

Victor Saracini
Michael Horrocks

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9:37 a.m.: En route from IAD to LAX, hijackers crash American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, near Washington, D.C. All 64 people on the Boeing 757 aircraft died in the crash — 6 crew members and 58 passengers; 5 of them were hijackers.

DCA-based Flight Attendants

Michele Heidenberger
Jennifer Lewis
Kenneth Lewis
Renee May

DCA-based Flight Deck

Charles Burlingame
David Charlebois

 

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10:03 a.m.: After learning of the other attacks, passengers on United Airlines Flight 93launch a counterattack on hijackers aboard their plane to try to seize control of the aircraft. The flight was en route from EWR to SFO. In response, the hijackers crashed the plane into an empty field near Shanksville, PA. All 44 people on the Boeing 757 aircraft died in the crash — 7 crew members and 37 passengers; 4 of them were hijackers.

EWR-based Flight Attendants

Lorraine G. Bay
Sandra Bradshaw
Wanda A. Green
CeeCee Lyles
Deborah Welsh

EWR-based Flight Deck

Jason Dahl
Leroy Homer