2021 marks the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country – and within our country – at New York City and Washington, D.C. on the morning of September 11, 2001. There were three plans for the hijacked airplane routes: one to destroy the World Trade Center in New York City, one to destroy the Pentagon, and one to destroy the Capitol building. The latter plan was fortunately foiled by brave Americans who stood up and fought the terrorists on the plane, forcing it to crash in Pennsylvania long before it reached our nation’s capital.
There were eight people from this area on two of those planes. Three were flight attendants. Another from Rhode Island was in a meeting at the World Trade Center. These nine shall be remembered like the rest of the thousands who lost their lives that horrific day in our history.
It was a lovely morning, with clear blue skies – perfect for flying for work, on business travel, or starting a vacation trip. Dianne Snyder of Westport was one of the flight attendants of the 11-person crew on American Airlines Flight 11. Among the 81 passengers were Barrington natives David and Lynn Angell, Carol Bouchard of Warwick and her friend Renee Newell, Rhode Island native Jessica Sachs (age 23) of Billerica, Taunton native Peter Gay (age 54; vice-president of Raytheon). The plane left Boston and was bound for Los Angeles, but was hijacked on the way by five terrorists: Muhammed Muhammed el-Amir Awad al-Sayed Atta (age 33), Abd al-Aziz Abdal-Rahman Muhammed al-Umari (age 22), Ustam bin Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Saqami (age 25), Wail Muhammad Abdallah al-Shehri (age 28), Walid Muhammad Abdallah al-Shehri (age 22). Muhammed Atta piloted Flight 11 straight into the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:45 near the 80th floor of the 110-floor structure, killing those nearby immediately and trapping others on the floors above.
Amy Jarret (age 23) of North Smithfield and Kathryn LaBorrie (age 44) were working as flight attendants on board United Airlines Flight 175. The plane left Boston and was bound for Los Angeles with two pilots, seven flight attendants, and 56 passengers. James Hayden (age 47) of Pawtucket was one of those passengers. Shawn Nassaney (age 25), also from Pawtucket, was traveling to Hawaii with Lynn Goodchild (age 25) of Attleboro. Reverend Francis Grogan (age 76), the superior of the Holy Cross residence in North Dartmouth was another local resident on that flight. Unfortunately, Marwan Yousef Muhammed Rashid Lekrab al-Shehhi (age 23), Ahmad Salih Said al-Kurshi al-Ghamdi (age 22), Ahmad Banihammad (age 24), Hamza Salih Ahmad al-Hamid al-Ghamdi (age 20), Mahanid Muhammad Fayiz al-Shehri (age 22) had other plans for this flight. These five young men hijacked the plane after it took off from Logan Airport and, with Marwan al-Shehhi as pilot, fulfilled their mission as they forced Flight 175 to plow into the south tower near the 60th floor of the World Trade Center 18 minutes after the north tower was struck by American Airlines Flight 11.
Mark Charette, born and raised in Warwick, was an insurance broker at Marsh & McLennan in New Jersey. He was at a meeting at Marsh’s offices in the World Trade Center, as were so many others that tragic day in those twin 110-story towers. Evacuations started in the north tower after the first plane struck, and then escalated as the second tower was struck. Burning debris showered down on surrounding buildings and Americans across the country were awestruck that this catastrophe happened on their home ground.
As this catastrophic event was being broadcast over television and radio, American Airlines Flight 77 took off from Washington, D.C., bound for Los Angeles. The six-member flight crew and 58 passengers were also hijacked by members of the same terrorist group as in the first two planes: Hani Salih Hasan Hanjur (age 29), Khalid bin Muhammed bin Abdallah al-Mihdhar (age 26), Majid Muqid Mushan bin Ghanim (age 24), Nawaf bin Muhammad Salim al-Hazmi (age 25), Salim Muhammad Salim al-Hazmi (age 20). Hani Hanjur piloted the aircraft in a circle over Washington before crashing into the western side of the Pentagon, striking America’s military headquarters.
Less than fifteen minutes after the Pentagon was hit, the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed in a massive cloud of dust and smoke, unable to withstand the extreme heat of the burning jet fuel. At 10:30, the north tower followed suit, adding to the choking dust and debris of the south tower collapse. Only six people who were inside the twin towers at the time of their collapse survived. Almost 10,000 others were injured, many severe.
In the meantime, a fourth California-bound plane took off from Newark. United Flight 93 had been delayed in taking off, and because of this, some of the passengers had learned about what happened with the other three flights via cell phones to their friends and relatives on the ground. Forty minutes later, the 7-person flight crew and 38 passengers had also been hijacked by four terrorists from the same group: Ziad Samir Jarrah (age 26), Ahmad Abdullah Abd al-Rahman al-Nami (age 23), Ahmad Ibrahim Ali al-Haznawi (age 20), Said Abdalah Ali Sulayman al-Ghamdi (age 21).
Knowing about the other three hijackings compelled the passengers to start an insurrection onboard, fighting against the hijackers and attacking the cockpit where Ziad Jarrah was. This caused the plane to flip over and crash into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:10 at a speed near 500 miles per hour. The hijackers never made it to their target of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Of these nineteen hijackers, one was Egyptian, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Lebanon, and the other fifteen were from Saudi Arabia. All but three listed their residence as Florida. The others listed their residence as New Jersey/Maryland. Three arrived in the U.S. in 2000. The rest arrived during the months of April through June of 2001. They attended commercial flight schools in America and chose the four planes bound for California because they would have the most fuel on board: a ready-made guided missile for a close prominent East Coast target.
Those of us who remember that dreadful day will never forget where we were when it happened, and will also never forget the photographs of the horrific scenes in New York, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania aftermath. Many of us know someone who was lost that day. Our country has not been the same since that day.
Remember the nearly 3000 people who died on September 11th, especially those nine with ties to our local area. Let us remember those who gave their lives to save others: the first responders rushing into the collapsing towers and the Pentagon. Let us remember those digging through the rubble in the aftermath of the towers, the Pentagon, and the debris field of Flight 93.
September 12, 2001 sparked renewed patriotism and compassion to fellow Americans, with neighbor helping neighbor through grief and worry of what might happen. Let us renew this patriotism for our country and compassion toward our fellow Americans and neighbors in this 20th year, and keep it going for many more.
NEVER FORGET!