Phone conversations from the hijacked planes on 9/11 reveal details on passengers’ bravery, heroism

Remembering 9/11: The Heart-Wrenching Calls from the Sky

On September 11, 2001, the world witnessed a tragedy that forever etched its memory. Thousands of innocent lives were lost when four hijacked airliners became instruments of terror. This day, akin to the unforgettable moments of Pearl Harbor and President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, unfolded before the shocked eyes of Americans.

The Day’s Events

That fateful day saw two planes crashing into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City. Another struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while the fourth aimed for Washington, D.C., but never reached its intended target.

United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth plane, became the battleground of courage. As the passengers and crew learned of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, they made 37 calls to their loved ones and emergency operators. Their bravery thwarted the hijackers’ plans, but at the cost of their own lives.

Heart-Wrenching Calls

The conversations made by those aboard the hijacked planes offer a glimpse into their emotions and the horrors they witnessed. Many of these calls have been made public, mainly through evidence presented during Zacarias Moussaoui’s 2006 trial, which included FBI interviews and 9/11 Commission reports. The Flight 93 National Memorial website documents details from all 37 calls, while the 9/11 Museum in New York City features poignant recordings in its “In Memoriam” exhibit.

Here are a few of these heart-wrenching calls:

1. CeeCee Lyles to her husband, Lorne

CeeCee Lyles, a flight attendant on Flight 93, left a poignant message for her husband, expressing her love and conveying the hijacking.

1. Tom Burnett to his wife, Deena

Tom Burnett, a passenger, discussed the hijacking and the passengers’ contemplation of confronting the hijackers.

1. Sandy Bradshaw to the Speed Dial Fix number

Flight attendant Sandy Bradshaw alerted authorities to the hijackers’ presence, their discussions of a bomb, and their lethal actions.

1. Mark Bingham to his aunt and mother

Mark Bingham called his family, revealing the hijackers’ ethnicity, the presence of weapons, and their intentions.

1. Jeremy Glick to his mother-in-law and wife, Lyzbeth

Jeremy Glick, another passenger, described the hijackers and their plans and sought guidance from his wife.

1. Lauren Grandcolas to her husband, Jack

Lauren Grandcolas left a message for her husband, expressing love and her concern for the unfolding situation.

1. Todd Beamer to GTE Airfone operators

Todd Beamer informed operators of the hijacking, the injured crew, and the hijackers’ weapons.

1. Linda Gronlund to her sister

Linda Gronlund’s heartbreaking message shared her love and fear as she faced the hijacking.

1. Marion Britton to friend Fred Fuimano

Marion Britton reported the hijacking, the fatal attack on passengers, and the plane’s erratic movements.

1. Edward Felt’s call to 911

Edward Felt dialed 911, conveying the hijacking’s dire circumstances and the plane’s location.

1. Brian Sweeney’s call to his wife, Julie

Brian Sweeney’s message, featured in the 9/11 Museum, expressed love and hope while on United Flight 175.

These calls are stark reminders of the bravery and sacrifice displayed on that tragic day, forever etched in history.