United flight attendant of 29 years here. 21 years ago on the eve of 9/11, at about 10-11pm....there was a thunderstorm that shut JFK down for hours. There were airplanes on every tarmac as far as the eye could see. We were number 33, our call sign was "United863Heavy" "...l'Il never forget.
My two girlfriends & I were flying to San Francisco on the same crew. We were all so teeny, the three of us fit in these two seats in business, and someone thought it was cute. They took this picture. We had no idea what was about to happen. Life as these three friends knew it changed forever. We were stuck in San Francisco from that Tuesday until we were flown back home to NYC on the following Friday. Our airplane flew OVER the still smoldering pile of what were The Twin Towers, buildings we all knew well. All we recalled hearing were the roar of the engines....no one made a sound, except for the occasional sniffle... I honestly don't recall much sound. I just looked out the window from my seat, 2A and cried to myself. We all did. Two of my other close girlfriends ended up being on the crew working flight 93 which crashed in PA. Those were some of the most emotional and scariest days of my life.
The older I get and the further we get away from 9/11 the more emotional it becomes for me. I’m a jaded and non-emotional asshole but who and what we lost that day just hits me harder every year.
Your picture makes me smile though….wish we could rewind and avoid that day.
uplateawake on September 11st, 2022 at 02:14 UTC »
My husband was on his way from his hotel to the towers when they were hit. Had no idea where he was until that evening. Longest day of my life. We were also on one of the first flights when the planes started flying again. All of us aboard fit in first class. I can still remember every member every member of the crew coming by and thanking us for getting on a plane again. Think of it still every time I travel. You were all very brave. Hugs
zyndrex on September 10th, 2022 at 23:09 UTC »
United flight attendant of 29 years here. 21 years ago on the eve of 9/11, at about 10-11pm....there was a thunderstorm that shut JFK down for hours. There were airplanes on every tarmac as far as the eye could see. We were number 33, our call sign was "United863Heavy" "...l'Il never forget.
My two girlfriends & I were flying to San Francisco on the same crew. We were all so teeny, the three of us fit in these two seats in business, and someone thought it was cute. They took this picture. We had no idea what was about to happen. Life as these three friends knew it changed forever. We were stuck in San Francisco from that Tuesday until we were flown back home to NYC on the following Friday. Our airplane flew OVER the still smoldering pile of what were The Twin Towers, buildings we all knew well. All we recalled hearing were the roar of the engines....no one made a sound, except for the occasional sniffle... I honestly don't recall much sound. I just looked out the window from my seat, 2A and cried to myself. We all did. Two of my other close girlfriends ended up being on the crew working flight 93 which crashed in PA. Those were some of the most emotional and scariest days of my life.
iwouldhugwonderwoman on September 11st, 2022 at 00:46 UTC »
Amazing and wonderful snapshot in time.
The older I get and the further we get away from 9/11 the more emotional it becomes for me. I’m a jaded and non-emotional asshole but who and what we lost that day just hits me harder every year.
Your picture makes me smile though….wish we could rewind and avoid that day.
uplateawake on September 11st, 2022 at 02:14 UTC »
My husband was on his way from his hotel to the towers when they were hit. Had no idea where he was until that evening. Longest day of my life. We were also on one of the first flights when the planes started flying again. All of us aboard fit in first class. I can still remember every member every member of the crew coming by and thanking us for getting on a plane again. Think of it still every time I travel. You were all very brave. Hugs