09/11/2026
It is surreal that it has been 25 years since 9/11, the day the world stood still. Everyone has their story and this one is mine. I had been overseas for over a month traveling for business. Finally, on 9/11, I was catching an AA flight from London back to my home in Dallas. We had been airborne for only a short time, when the unfathomable news began to reach the cockpit, the crew, and the passengers. While there was confusion, fright, and despair - there was also compassion,strength and comfort from all. I will never forget one of our flight attendants collapsing from grief on the news of her fellow co-workers and passengers on the downed planes. The pilots unloaded our full tanks of fuel, as we watched out the windows. We landed back in London, and the chaotic process of unloading, contacting family member to let them know we were OK, and determining the next steps began. I spent an additional 5 days in London waiting for airspace to reopen while the country grieved. Every place I went, I was treated with such love, compassion, and care from every single person I came across. “What can I do to help you?”, was the common theme. And all I wanted to do was to go home. When we were able to return home and the flight landed in Dallas, the entire plane erupted in cheers and applause. It was a scary and uncertain time, but I also felt a sense of hope that there are truly wonderful and caring people in this world. The evil acts may have knocked us down, but also brought out the good in people. Please never forget.
#911
