Remembrance
 

This year it’s not too soon to remember. 9/11

Crazy its been 20 years. One of those few days everyone remembers where they were. I was in high school and woke up to my dad telling me to come see what was happening and saw the plane hit the second tower on live TV etc... Just incredibly sad and scary to see. Crazier to hear the various stories from those who were in the industry when it happened.

My now pilot wife, then girlfriend, lived in DC and was scheduled to fly back from DEN on 9/11. I was in the EU and it took two days before I heard via her parents she was ok. Will definitely not forget.

I was working line service in MHT. Went to fuel the 9am NWA Airbus flight, and they said to hold off, they may not be departing. Saw what was transpiring on the TV in ops, and went back to the FBO. Got there not long after the second airplane hit, and after the second tower collapse they sent us all home. Didn't go back to the airport for at least 3 or 4 days. I was going to night school at the time, and they didn't cancel classes for some reason. I remember sitting down in class, and wondering WTF we were all doing there. I got up and left. When I got in my car Opie and Anthony were just finishing up their show, and they played "Don't Tread On Me" by Metallica. That song will forever be associated with 9/11 in my mind.

Was at a regional flying that morning. ATC basically declared the emergency and we diverted along with several company planes. At the time we couldn’t think of what would cause it until we walked into the rampers break room where the TV was on. We saw the second hit and everyone knew it meant war.

Was stuck for four days before we ferried back to DFW. Had a regional jumpseater in shorts and flip flops on his way back home to be furloughed.

Who knew the Lost Decade would create so much change in American aviation?

I still haven’t been able to bring myself to Ground Zero.

It's tough but it's worth it....they did a great job on the memorial/museum.

Agreed, well worth the visit.

I was in the air that morning on the way to Vegas a morning and day I will never forget. I had Deb on one of my flights a few weeks earlier. A wild and tense ride back into Chicago that morning.

I was a 777 PI at the time. On the night of the 10th I’d flown up to ANC to meet up with some friends to go caribou hunting. I woke up in time to see the second tower get hit the next morning. The following 7 days were an odyssey trying to get home.

I’d had breakfast with Jason Dahl within the previous week at TK.

I was a 57/67 F/O at the time. Lucky enough to be home that morning. Saw it unfold with my wife on TV. Still have my little red logbook with those tail numbers in it.

When I remind the f/a’s to follow protocol during lav breaks, occasionally one will react as if it’s a burden. Once they truly understand the history, the attitude vanishes...This is most certainly our generation’s Pear Harbor.

Never forget.