Pilot Proficiency

Jumpseat: An Airline Pilot Returns Home

Friday, September 10, 2021 at 07:31 PM ET

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Captain Les Abend flew a Boeing 757 home with his crew to Newark from LAX following 9/11 in 2001. This 757 is in the current livery. Adobe Stock

Key Takeaways:

The pilot vividly describes the profound emotional toll and sense of violation he experienced as an airline captain flying the first post-9/11 flight into Newark, struggling to reconcile his profession with the recent tragedy.
Despite overwhelming grief and trepidation, he and his crew maintained professional focus to safely land a plane full of anxious passengers, emphasizing the duty of normalcy amidst crisis.
His journey culminates in an intense appreciation for home and family, underscoring the deep emotional significance of returning to loved ones and finding solace in simple human connections and community resilience after the attacks.

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This story originally published in the September 2004 issue of Flying Magazine.

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.