To mark 21 years since the September 11 attacks, we're remembering the heroic flight attendant who helped to identify hijackers on her plane.
Betty Ann Ong's story was shared by the New York Post, as it was revealed that the 45-year-old wasn't originally supposed to work that fateful day, but had agreed to an extra shift so that she could join her sister, Cathie, for a vacation in Hawaii.
Flight attendant Betty was assigned to American Airlines Flight 11, which took off from Boston’s Logan Airport for Los Angeles.
However, just 14 minutes into the flight, the plane was hijacked and redirected toward New York City.
At 8:30AM, Betty spoke with ground employees via an Airfone. In a calm voice, she told them:
"The cockpit’s not answering. Somebody’s stabbed in business class - and I think there’s Mace.
"I think we’re getting hijacked."
Per The Post, Betty and fellow flight attendant Madeline Sweeney then helped identify the hijackers by informing the ground crew of the men's seat numbers.
Betty Ann Ong's final words over the Airfone, per The Post, were:
"Pray for us. Pray for us."
Ong remained on the Airfone for 23 minutes, relaying the critical information she was receiving from her fellow brave flight attendants.
At 8:46AM, Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower.
Thanks to the heroic phone call, the world now knows that the hijackers "jammed their way" into the plane's cockpit before killing co-pilots John Ogonowski and Thomas McGuinness Jr.
Additionally, Ong's details informed the world that the terrorists horrifically attacked business-class passenger Daniel Lewin, and critically wounded flight attendants Bobbi Arestegui and Karen Martin.
We also know that the hijackers used Mace to control and intimidate those onboard, which lead to passengers assembling in coach in order to avoid the fumes.
Following the attacks, Cathie - Betty's sister - was approached by American Airlines employee Nydia Gonzalez. She told Cathie: "I'm the person who spoke to your sister [from the ground].
"You need to be very proud of your sister. She provided a lot of information very calmly."
Betty's family now run a foundation that funds the Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center in San Francisco. "We continue to keep her legacy alive by the work we’re doing," Cathie said.
The September 11 attacks were the most devastating terrorist attacks in human history - claiming the lives of 2,977 people.
They also resulted in the highest line of duty deaths on a single day for first responders in US history. According to the 9/11 Commission, the New York City Fire Department lost 343 among their ranks, while 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority officers also lost their lives.
To see the names of every victim of the attacks, click here.
We will never forget.
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