The Day That Silenced Our Skies

Twenty-five years after 9/11, an airline pilot reflects on the unimaginable tragedy.

Les Abend

Wednesday, November 04, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Rendering of the former Twin Towers in New York City [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The author, a commercial pilot who had flown the same aircraft models used in the 9/11 attacks, recounts the profound personal impact of visiting Ground Zero shortly after the tragedy and witnessing the events unfold while stranded in Los Angeles.
Amidst the widespread chaos, he observed acts of humanity and support, later piloting one of the first flights to the NYC area after airspace reopened, confronting the grim reality of the devastation from the cockpit.
The experience left him with a lasting sense of responsibility and sorrow, reflecting on how 9/11 irrevocably changed aviation, security protocols, and the collective understanding of passenger and ground safety.

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it wasn’t quite four weeks after September 11, 2001, when my wife and I chose to visit Ground Zero. Still in uniform after returning from a trip, I approached a beat cop standing on one corner. He was guarding a perimeter of the devastation. I nodded and gestured toward the rubble, firmly holding my wife’s hand.

The cop asked, “Did you fly the kind of airplane that hit the towers?”