story6050.xml
Title
story6050.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-12
911DA Story: Story
This day still makes me feel a little bit creepy. Back in those days I used to work as a Flight Attendant for a portuguese airline (AIR LUXOR). And during the Summer 2001 we were having 3 flights a week LISBON (PORTUGAL) to JFK and NEWARK.
I was in the last flight crew. As the plane returned to Portugal, we stayed in Newark resting and we were returning to Lisbon (in a TAP AIR PORTUGAL flight) during the 10th September afternoon. I was with my wife, Sara, who was also my colleague, and I remember crossing a bridge towards JFK Airport as we saw Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty, and I said: "Look Sara, this is all we get this year. You know... I'm already missing those walks downtown through ChinaTown, TriBeCa, SoHo. And look the Twin Towers, the ...".
Ten minutes later a car crashed into the van that was carrying us to the airport. We stayed still in a traffic jam for a long time and when we arrived at the check-in it was closing. We were the last 10 people to check-in.
The next morning at home, watching those images I wondered what could have happened to me if had stayed there. As we had the car crash and were thinking about losing the flight, we were planning to climb the WTC the next day. Everyday in the Summer 2001 when I was in NY, we stayed in Newark and we used to take the train to the WTC station, where we were used to arrive about 8.30/9.00 in the morning and have breakfast near the station exit.
Was it luck, was it God. I think will never know. But one thing I know. I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET THOSE TWO DAYS AND HOW THEY COULD HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE.
God bless you all and that those who deceased rest in peace forever and in our hearts.
I was in the last flight crew. As the plane returned to Portugal, we stayed in Newark resting and we were returning to Lisbon (in a TAP AIR PORTUGAL flight) during the 10th September afternoon. I was with my wife, Sara, who was also my colleague, and I remember crossing a bridge towards JFK Airport as we saw Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty, and I said: "Look Sara, this is all we get this year. You know... I'm already missing those walks downtown through ChinaTown, TriBeCa, SoHo. And look the Twin Towers, the ...".
Ten minutes later a car crashed into the van that was carrying us to the airport. We stayed still in a traffic jam for a long time and when we arrived at the check-in it was closing. We were the last 10 people to check-in.
The next morning at home, watching those images I wondered what could have happened to me if had stayed there. As we had the car crash and were thinking about losing the flight, we were planning to climb the WTC the next day. Everyday in the Summer 2001 when I was in NY, we stayed in Newark and we used to take the train to the WTC station, where we were used to arrive about 8.30/9.00 in the morning and have breakfast near the station exit.
Was it luck, was it God. I think will never know. But one thing I know. I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET THOSE TWO DAYS AND HOW THEY COULD HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE.
God bless you all and that those who deceased rest in peace forever and in our hearts.
Collection
Citation
“story6050.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 17, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/13043.