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 pilot who previously flew the same aircraft types used in the 9/11 attacks, shares his deeply personal account of visiting Ground Zero and experiencing the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
He recounts being stranded in Los Angeles with fellow airline crew members as events unfolded, highlighting the initial disbelief, camaraderie, and eventual emotional return to flying one of the first post-9/11 commercial flights.
The article reflects on the profound and permanent changes 9/11 brought to aviation safety, pilot responsibilities, and the collective psyche, emphasizing the ongoing importance of remembrance and resilience.

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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?”