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:

An airline pilot describes the profound emotional weight and sense of violation experienced while flying the first post-9/11 redeye into Newark, witnessing the devastation in New York City.
Despite deep personal grief and the trauma of the attacks, he and his crew maintained professional focus to safely transport their shell-shocked passengers home.
The pilot's journey home highlights the overwhelming relief and renewed appreciation for family, friends, and the simple act of being safe after experiencing such a national tragedy.
The narrative concludes with a poignant reflection on the importance of returning to loved ones and finding solace in community, emphasizing the quiet triumph of an airline pilot making it home in a changed world.

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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.