Jumpseat: September 11 — We Didn’t Forget

Les Abend

Friday, September 09, 2011 at 08:23 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

9/11 profoundly changed airline pilots' mindset, shifting from a policy of non-resistance to hijackers to a proactive determination to actively combat threats.
Pilots became instrumental in advocating for and implementing significant post-9/11 security reforms, including armed pilots and updated airline policies.
The article emphasizes the often-unrecognized heroism of the United 93 flight crew, particularly Captain Jason Dahl, for their resistance that helped thwart the attack's full mission.
Beyond visible security measures, the most significant post-9/11 improvement is the enhanced vigilance and changed mindset of flight crews, battling complacency to ensure passenger safety.

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(September 2011) I am almost certain that on Dec. 7, 1951, the scars of Pearl Harbor had not faded from the memories of most Americans, even 10 years after the attack. I can guarantee the same for Sept. 11, 2011. For airline pilots, the scars will take much longer to heal. Why?

Airline pilots took the day personally. In a few horrifying moments, our passion for flying was transformed into an inconceivable evil. Prior to 9/11, airline pilots were confident with the concept that the exclusive weapon in our arsenal was the ability to fly the airplane. That ability was leverage. Our policy manuals provided us with simple guidance: Cooperate with the hijackers. Don’t jeopardize the safety of the passengers by resisting. This guidance was based on the outcome of past occurrences.