Where were you on September 11th 2001?

[PAJ]

I was in the office (overlooking YYZ) early that day as someone came rushing in to tell the unbelievable story. Turned the TV on and saw the rest unfold. Shortly thereafter watched out the window as everything stopped and stayed frozen in place at YYZ. Very strange because as you can imagine Pearson is a pretty busy place with constant movement on the aprons/runways. There was some who thought we should evacuate the building because we are one of the tallest structures in the airport area. Didn't however. Speaking of tall structures, all eyes when not glued to the TV were on CN Tower watch, easily seen from here. Speculation was getting the better of us and no work was done that day. The world has definitely changed since that day!

[iflyforpie]

I remember heading to work that afternoon (I was kind of selfish and hoped the airport would be closed, but it wasn't). It was afternoon shift at KFC, working on a Jet Alaska Convair 580 in the old north hangar.

I was following this girl who worked up in engineering into the hangar. I didn't know her, but I certainly recognized her and she recognized me. I didn't bother to take out my key card to open the door that she had already opened. She turned around, stopped me, and asked to see some identification. I took out my key card, and after thoughtfully 'examining' it (it had a red and black stripe and said 'Honeywell'), she 'let' me in.


When our basic personal freedoms are taken away, the terrorists have already won.

Nobody seems to care that more people get killed each month in car accidents in the US than were killed on 9/11.

[AEROBAT]

I was at work. Someone set up a TV in the conference room and we watched the second jet hit. The first thing that crossed my mind was Pearl Harbour. The second was if I should re-enlist.

About two hours later we got an E-mail from headquarters in Ontario wanting to know why we hadn't evacuated the jobsite as a safety measure, we were in northern Alberta :rolleyes That's when I realized all the nutty rent a cop socialist big brother morons would turn the terrorist attack into an excuse to restrict freedom and swell their mickey mouse departments.

Just look at the waste of money on security for the winter Olympics. The terrorists won, that's for sure.

[flying4dollars]

I was registering for some classes and starting my 1st day at college. I came home after registering and my mom yelled at me to come upstairs to watch the news. Couldn't really explain what was going through my head at the time. Era changer for sure.

[futboler14]

I was in grade 8 and for the whole morning before class I knew something was wrong when our first period teacher was late. Next, our principle came on the PA like every morning for announcements. His voice was dull and quiet, no pitch at all. The words that he used to describe what was going on I can't remember. I knew it was bad though. At lunch, where grades 6 through 8 ate, was a big screen t.v and it was there, at that moment when I saw replays of the planes hitting the towers and the caption at the bottom of the screen on CNN "AMERICA UNDER ATTACK". I'll never forget it.

I wasn't very interested in aviation at the time and didn't realize how it would affect the industry and now, my life.

[yycflyguy]

My flight from MPTO (Panama City) to MMTZ (Tuxtla Mexico) with a load of empty ice coolers was cancelled... in fact no flights to Mexico happened for a week after 9/11. The Panamanians were certain that the next terror attack was planned for the Canal locks.

[Snagmaster E]

Working at a bus terminal. Wife (girlfriend at the time) was supposed to go out on a pairing with Canada 3000 that afternoon. She got to see all of the a/c on the ground in Halifax up close and personal in a ramp vehicle.

[Prairie Chicken]

I was driving into town for a haircut when I heard about the first a/c going into the WTC. By the time I got to the salon I walked in & told them the US was under attack. It was the longest haircut I've ever had! I went directly home & spent the remainder of the day watching TV.

[4hrstovegas]

Pre-solo check for my first solo. Called back to base in midflight.

[YoungPunk]

I was snoozin. My mom woke me up and told me to watch teh news. Watched the second hit sitting in bead in my undies in utter disbelief. Then I had to go to work at the Transwest desk in YVC. Telling people that they couldn't fly to Wallaston because of terrorist attacks in the US. I had angry people swearing at me all day like it was my fault. I kept getting update phone calls from my girlfriend and family because we had no FM radio or TV at the terminal. 2 weeks later I was flying to Europe, that was interesting.

[I WAS Birddog]

*BUMP*

Since I started this thread back in September 10, 2004 as "I am Birddog"...I thought it would be fitting to continue with it as we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Thanks for reading and contributing.

I WAS Birddog

[MZUNGO]

I was just getting up for my shift as a fueller at YWG. when I arrived at work around 10am there were several large airliners on the ramp and lots more ligned up to land. YWG doesn't get many planes bigger than A320's. it was a busy few days to say the least.

[bverwegen]

Was outside for recess in grade 5 when my friend came running out to the soccer field and said that a plane had crashed into the empire state building.

[toelessjoe]

We had just landed in Kingfisher Lake when my captain came out of the MTO building and said "we're not going anywhere for a while". Spent the next three days in a youth hostel with passengers Tom Crews and a lady named Pushma who as it turned out had been one of my wife's university professors at UCCB. Small world.

They say still waters run deep. There was much to reflect upon over those three days. Quietest flight home ever.
- Toeless.

[toelessjoe]

On a lighter note;

Did the kid above me say he was in the 5th freakin' grade?!?


Christ on a stick, when the hell did I get so f***ing old .

- Toeless.

[iflyforpie]

Well I wasn't flying...

Got two joyrides in before 9/11 on my shiny new PPL.

[Nark]

Looking for a job.

Just spoke with the CP at NT Air the day before. He told me to head East to Thompson.

[flyalmaguin]

Like most people involved in aviation and/or emergency services, I remember that day clear as a bell.

I was outside, taking the garbage to the road. I remember looking up at a cloudless sky and thinking things should be going smoothly for Voyageur Airways dispatch where I had worked until the end of 2000. I also refelcted on it being a beautiful day for flying and that I really should get current again....

My wife opened the window on the house and shouted I should come in and watch Canada AM, they are broadcasting live from New York, something about a small plane hitting the World Trade Centre. I distinctly remember looking back at the sky and thinking "weird, I'm sure the weather must be similar to what is here".

I joined her on the couch, my 3 month old daughter in her bouncy chair. One look at the flaming hole in the first tower and I knew this was no small plane. I'd been to WTC and knew it's size and this was a huge impact. First inkling that something wasn't right.

My wife asked how is it posible a plane could hit the tower on such a bright clear day? As I was explaining possible reasons, we saw the 2nd jet, very close, streaking from right to left on the TV screen. We both said at the same time "Wow.... that looked awfully close...." followed then by the exclamations of newscasters that the 2nd tower had been hit. Now we knew we were witnessing history unfold.

As a 911 dispatcher for the OPP and volunteer firefighter, my first thoughts were about the emergency responders that had to have been already in the tower responding to the first strike..... not knowing about the unfolding attacks, just doing their job that morning like any other morning.

My thoughts also drifted to fellow colleagues in the aviation world and what horrible emotions they must be experiencing.

The thought of the towers collapsing would never have entered my mind, so when they did I really was gobsmacked.

Like most, I spent the balance of the day glued to the TV, the internet and phone speaking with family. I remember a distinct feeling of dispair, remembering other terrible watershed moments in my history on this planet (Challenger disaster, the opening night of the 1st Gulf War, etc), and pondering how the world was going to change that day - and that my 3 month old daughter would never know what things were like prior to that fatefull morning. Much like I would never know a world before the JFK asassination and first moon landings I guess.

I can't believe it's been 10 years already.

Remember that day how you wish, but never forget to remember.

[Hawkerflyer]

Blasted off from Trenton, NJ and was diverted to Harrisburg, PA. An unforgettable day in history.

[MCB]

Did the kid above me say he was in the 5th freakin' grade?!?

I wasn't too far ahead of him. Sixth grade. I remember one of the seventh grade teachers walking in and calling my teacher out to the hallway to tell her something. Students weren't filled in until the second one had been hit.