Every year since 2001, I have always taken note of the weather on September 11. It was on that morning back then, as I walked to my car before the early-morning drive to work in northern New Jersey, I remember how the day dawned. The sky was sparklingly clear – deep blue and not a cloud to be seen. But as a pilot, I also noted that the wind was virtually dead calm – a very unusual combination, at least here in the Northeast. I clearly remember thinking, “What a beautiful, smooth day to fly!”
It was a beautiful day to fly Mark and I was. The helicopter I was piloting was likely the first to pass the towers after the first impact as I was landing at30th St helipad. The gapping airplane shaped hole very visible in the tower structure as the fire and smoke had yet to obscure it. I departed 30th St for our home base at Linden Airport thinking what could have happened. As I turned over the Statue of Liberty and obtained clearance through Newark a fellow helicopter pilot who’s voice I recognized broke on the the frequency shouting approach another airplane just hit the second tower (just behind me). I never looked back till I landed at LInden. Once on the dolly and shut down I looked back at the destruction clearly visible from my point. The sea of floating paper surrounding the towers like a ticker tape parade will for ever be in my mind. I still could not grasp what had caused two airliners to hit the towers. After the 3rd plane hit the Pentagon I decided to go home. Boarded my 170 for my commute home just as police cars entered Linden to close it down. It was a beautiful uneventful flight home to PA as I flew in silence with the radio off, trying to comprehend what had just taken place and what may be next.
When I look back on 9/11, I marvel at the small decisions that keep me out of the worst of the tragedy. During that time, I worked in NYC and commuted to my office on 8th Ave. If I had gone to the office that day, I would have been stuck in NYC as many of my staff were.
I was planning to fly my Mooney to KBED for a meeting and despite it being a gorgeous day for flying, I decided to drive. If I had flown, my aircraft would have been stuck at KBED.
One of my customers was in in Houston and I was on 3rd flight to leave KLGA after the attack. There were just 2 other people on the MD-8 that day.
A Reflection: Unlike past wars that had clear endings, 9/11 started a fight with no obvious end. The “War on Terror” requires us to stay alert and ready for new threats. Even though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are officially over, terrorism still exists, and security measures like flight surveillance have become part of daily life. However, these challenges also show our strength and ability to adapt. While the effects of 9/11 are still with us, there is hope for a future that moves toward greater safety and peace.
The tragedy of 9/11 and the “War on Terror” are clear examples of what happens when we don’t act soon enough or in the right way.
The September 11, 2001 attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives in a single day, with first responders and civilians making the ultimate sacrifice. Thousands more later suffered health problems from toxic exposure at Ground Zero. Yet, the ripple effects went much further. The wars that followed have cost trillions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives, raising the question: was this the right response? And what have we truly gained?
The financial cost of 9/11 stretches far beyond the immediate damage. The attacks caused $123 billion in economic losses, with billions more spent rebuilding and compensating victims. However, the greatest burden comes from the “War on Terror.” Over $2 trillion has been spent on military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, with another $2 trillion projected for veteran care.
The human toll has been just as devastating. Over 7,000 U.S. military personnel and 8,000 contractors have died since 2001, along with hundreds of thousands of civilians, mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many veterans returned home with severe physical and emotional wounds, impacting families and communities for generations.
Spending on homeland security has also topped $1 trillion, but the question remains: Are we truly safer today?
Many of these costs could have been reduced with better planning and smarter responses. Could more effective intelligence have prevented 9/11? Could a more measured approach have avoided the costly wars that followed? The answers aren’t easy, but the need for more thoughtful action is clear.
We can’t change the past, but we must learn from it. Delaying action or responding poorly costs lives, money, and opportunities. To honor those who have suffered, we must act sooner and smarter. Lest we forget!
Raf,
All the things you point out as far as the cost of 9/11 are true. Afghanistan is a perfect example of the incompetence of politicians on both party’s in dragging out a conflict, accomplishing little, with the resulting cost in American lives. I will never forget 9/11 myself. Should have never taken 10 years to find Bin-Laden. I had just finished flying a freight trip that morning and as I got home I had a frantic phone call from my wife telling me to turn on the TV to the news. Right after I did I saw the second tower get hit live. As far as the intelligence is concerned it is not more effective intelligence that is needed, just need government officials to not ignore the intelligence received. During the previous year there were all kinds of rumors and reports of persons wanting to learn to fly but not to land an airplane. I even met one of those sim instructors during a training event that had warned the local FBI office something was up, who that FBI office relayed info to Washington where it was ignored. Now general aviation is paying the price for something GA had nothing to do with. I am reminded of this every time I go through the worthless TSA training I have to every year. 9/11 nearly cost me my flying career after everything shut down.Fortunately the company owner only had to lay off a part time pilot who to his credit stuck it out and was hired 6 months later. I flew a passenger charter the first night pt 135 ops were allowed to resume. Quietest radio traffic I ever experienced that night. Did several radio checks to make sure I didn’t lose contact with center. As far as doing things differently, the current mess at the southern border is a perfect example of another disaster waiting to happen. The last president tried to fix it but the current one went right back to old habits that had been it place for over 50 years. Until the borders are enforced, until we stop buying Mideast oil supplying our enemies with funding, very little will change. How does the saying go, those who ignore history are bound to repeat it!
That takes strong directed action against evil.
I recommend John David Lewis’ book ‘Nothing Less Than Victory’ which chronicles several wars in which the victorious army focussed on the goal and did not ‘rape and pillage’ - resulting in peaceful societies.
A problem is dysfunctional societies - Syria has oppressive regime supported by Russia, rebels supported by US, Iran is using part of Syria to make missiles to attack Israel (Iran and Russia are trading weapons).
Lebanon is a basket case, used by Hezbollah to attack Israel.
