Massachusetts officials apologized yesterday after holding a fire training drill at Boston Logan International Airport on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
In response to a backlash of negative reactions on social media, the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the airport, said in a statement, “Massport apologizes for conducting the fire training exercise and understands that it may have offended many of those touched by the events of September 11.”
Video footage of the training drill shows airport firefighters battling a blaze set aboard a mock airliner to simulate a crash at the airport. Black smoke billowed from the scene even as others on the airport held moments of silence and laid wreaths at the airport’s 9/11 memorial.
“It’s just dumb,” Gov. Deval Patrick said. “The timing could not be worse.”
American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 departed Logan and crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City after being hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001.
In its apology, Massport wrote that “Safety and security is our top priority and constant vigilance and readiness is critical, but the exercise should not have taken place on the anniversary of 9/11.”
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