Memories and thoughts from our employees. Linda Alexander Washington, District of Columbia Never Again the Same I called in sick 9/11 & returned to sleep w/TV on. I re-awoke just after the 1st tower hit. As the sleep fog cleared, I watched as the 2nd tower exploded. Then the Pentagon. This was a bad TV joke, wasn't it?! (MORE...) Patricia Blauth Millville, New Jersey A New Beginning On September 11, I was working at Millville Automated Flight Service Station N.J., as an Airways Facilty Technician. The day started with me having morning sickness, and hoping the day would get better. I was 5 months pregnant. This pregancy was very, very difficult, and I kept thinking (MORE...) David Chien Washington, District of Columbia 9/11 Airspace Odyssey Three of us from the FAA were flying to Atlanta HQ. We were 20 miles from Hartsfield Airport when suddenly the woman sitting next to me shouted, “Oh my God, they have crashed a plane into the World Trade Towers!” (MORE...) Judi Citrenbaum Washington, District of Columbia So many heros Having a window office on the 8th-floor east side of Headquarters building 10A, I had a bird's-eye view of the thick smoke pouring from the Pentagon. My thoughts went immediately to my husband (also an FAA employee) (MORE...) Ron Clark Fort Worth, Texas When I first heard When I first heard of the tragedy, I overheard a secretary mentioned a small plane had hit one of the tall towers in New York City. I went down to our conference room where the TV was on. (MORE...) John Diaz Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Personal thoughts I was on the phone with an operator when a fellow inspector said that a small aircraft had crashed into the WTC. I thought that maybe it was a sightseeing plane. When I hung up the phone, I went to the cubicle (MORE...) Alan Gregory Atlantic City, New Jersey Thinking of Next Generation Stopped at Green Bank Elementary School. The staff asks for help. Relate to the students; give them reassurances; answer questions; listen. Expressions of fear hold the mood. “Will we be safe? Will (MORE...) Sheila Griffin Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Memorable Birthday I was at work, celebrating my thirty something birthday and the birth of my niece, when I heard all of the commotion about a plane crash. I thought this was not an ordinary plane crash, something is (MORE...) Mark Hale Atlantic City, New Jersey Never Forget I did not know any of the victims of the tragedy of 9/11. In my mind, not only were we physically attacked, but we were also mentally attacked, our way of life was attacked. (MORE...) Leonese Holder Fort Worth, Texas Importance of Life I frequently think of the events of 9/11 and the people involved. This event has demonstrated to me the importance (MORE...) Phil Hunt Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Numb I was in the HQ Library when someone came in and told us about New York. Later, someone else came in and said a plane had hit the Pentagon, I thought they had gotten it mixed (MORE...) Joe Keifer Washington, District of Columbia We Must Never Forget.... The horror was unfolding before our eyes on a couple of small monitors in the HQ lobby. Around me co-workers were watching with ashen faces as the second plane slammed into the WTC. (MORE...) Dyana Kelley Atlanitc City, New Jersey My husband was travelling that day... He had left the day before, on September 10. When I walked into my break room here at the Technical Center and saw the tower burning, and then watching the second plane ram into (MORE...) Malcolm V. Lane Atlanitc City, New Jersey Remembering.... My wife's parent company lost over 300 dedicated and loyal employees in the terrorist act of 9/11. My wofe knew some of them. Our oldest son, a Marine Corps Super Stallion helicopter pilot, has spent 14 of the past 17 months deployed in (MORE...) Lynn McCloud Washington, District of Columbia The Day the Earth Stood Still The headquarters building was evacuated that morning, around 10:30. I said to myself, “I’m a mom. I’m going home.” The Mall looked like a scene from the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Cars were bumper to bumper. No cellphones were working. (MORE...) Rick McLean Peachtree City, Georgia Get Em on the Ground At A80 the word went out that the NAS was shutting down. The call went out for help in the control room. I grabbed my headset and headed for the "approach wall." The ETMS showed a line of airplanes headed for ATL as well as almost every (MORE...) John Ogden Washington, District of Columbia Memories of 9/11/01 September 11, 2001 in Washington started off with meetings scheduled and business as usual in FAA Headquarters. This quickly changed that fateful morning as the horrifying events of the day unfolded. We watched TV with disbelief as the 2nd (MORE...) Diogenes Ramos New York, New York The Look There was a time when I would take a look over at the Towers as I crossed the Verazanno bridge into Brooklyn. I worked in the Wall Street area a few years before 9/11 and I hated the hustle and bustle that consumed me daily. I felt apathy and even contempt (MORE...) Gerri Robinson Washington, District of Columbia Family My frist priority was to get home and to be sure my daughter and son-in-law who also work in Washington, DC, arrived home safely to their families. My focus then changed to my Brother and Brother-in-law, who work in New York City, and their immediate (MORE...) Pennie Thompson Washington, District of Columbia A Long Walk Home After the first plane, we found a TV watched in horror the second plane. Some outside heard the Pentagon explosion and came in. We looked out the window to see the smoke. They told us to get out. I ride a commuter bus that runs after 4. Sometimes (MORE...) Rosanne Weiss Atlantic City, New Jersey Memories of 9/11/01 I can remember 9/11/01 as if it were yesterday. A little before 9 am I heard a co-worker tell someone that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. He said he was going to turn on the TV. By the time I got to the TV others (MORE...) Sept. 11, 2001 Home FAA Portraits Hundreds of FAA people worked to improve security and restore civil aviation after the skies were closed on Sept. 11, 2001. Here are some of their portraits. Week of September 2 Week of September 9 In Their Own Words Memories and thoughts from our employees. Week of September 2 Week of September 9 September 11 Week of September 16 September 18 Clearing the Skies Landing so many planes so quickly was an outstanding achievement. A series of articles in USA Today explains the behind-the-scenes decisions and actions.