story1820.xml
Title
story1820.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-06
911DA Story: Story
Tuesday, September 11th began brilliant and clear as we watched the sun rise from the American Airlines terminal, over Boston?s Logan Airport. Our flight was due to take off at 7:00 am. We were about to board a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico with a connection to Aruba for our 28th visit to the island.
Sitting in the waiting area trying to wake up with a cup of coffee, we watched as a ?red eye? flight arrived from Los Angeles at the next gate to the one from which our flight would leave. About 40 people disembarked from that flight and disappeared into the crowd. It was at that time that we noticed that the same aircraft would be turning around and heading back to Los Angeles at 7:45 am and would be known as American Airlines Flight #11.
We sat and watched as the waiting area began to fill with people waiting to depart on both the San Juan and Los Angeles flights. We noticed people gathering in the same waiting area who would board Flight #11 but did not pay much attention to their faces, except for two individuals.
One was a young woman in a wheelchair apparently traveling alone, assisted by an airline attendant. She had an obvious injury to her ankle and had a small carry-on bag and a pair of crutches. The attendant wheeled her to a stop near the gate and helped her into a regular chair. The young woman gave a polite and very sweet ?Thank you? to the attendant. I paused to look at her for a few moments wondering if I should offer to help her with her things, but decided against it since she seemed to be handling things well.
A few minutes later, a young gentleman, very American looking, strolled over to where we were sitting, and took a seat next to me in the waiting area. He looked directly into my eyes but didn?t say anything. I didn?t think too much of it. (Later that same day, my husband and I would remark that this young man acted somewhat suspicious and walked into the waiting area with absolutely nothing in his hands?no baggage of any kind, briefcase, notebook, bags or paperwork.)
Within a few minutes, our flight was being called to begin boarding and we walked down the jetway never to look back again. We thought no more of this period of time, for it was just like any other time waiting to board an airplane for any other trip we have been on.
By 11 am that same day, we landed at San Juan, Puerto Rico, ready to change planes and continue on our trip to Aruba. We disembarked questioning why there had been no usual announcement of where to meet our connecting flight, so we checked the monitors for information. The monitors indicated that all flights into and out of San Juan airport had been cancelled.
We thought this strange and walked to the American Airlines service desk to ask for information on when our flight would be departing. We stood in line for 45 minutes with several people ahead of us who were trying to arrange connecting flights to their destinations. We found it strange that the ticket agents weren?t able to help many passengers with their flights.
Others around us started calling their offices, homes, etc. to notify people of their flight changes. Word started circulating that there had been some kind of airplane disaster involving the World Trade Center in New York. We were hearing all kinds of stories and rumors. Aircraft had crashed into the Pentagon, the US Treasury Building or Camp David, the President?s Summer Retreat. My husband and I both could not believe what we were hearing! What was going on here??? What was happening???
We frantically dug our cell phone out of our carryon luggage and tried calling one of our daughters back in NH but to no avail. Alas only an answering machine! I left a message just to say we were safe and where we were at that moment. We continued to wait in line at the airline?s service desk when a supervisor announced that the San Juan airport was being closed and evacuated. Everyone was given a list of hotels in the area with their appropriate phone numbers. We were to call a hotel, reserve a room, pick up our luggage, and leave the airport immediately! The airport was now closed and we could no longer ask any further questions.
We were all very scared! We did not know what to expect next. Everyone was directed outside the terminal where taxis were waiting. There was another hour of waiting for a taxi to take us to a hotel. Each taxi was filled with people according to the location of the hotel where they had made reservations. Although most people didn?t really know what was going on, thousands were being moved out of the airport in a relatively organized fashion.
Through all of these events going on, the airport never disclosed to any of us what was happening in the United States at that moment. When we arrived at our hotel, we were told that the hotel would be charging ?distress rates? instead of the usual nightly rates because of this horrendous disaster going on and the number of people stranded in San Juan. No one knew when the airport would be opened again. No one knew when we could continue on to our previously appointed destination.
As soon as my husband and I were in our room, we turned on the television to CNN and realized that the U.S. had been attacked by terrorists and that hundreds if not thousands of people had been killed. What was going to happen next? Where were these terrorists going to strike next? We continued to watch the news broadcasts while we dialed each of our six daughters at home to let them know where we were and that we were safe, at least for now.
We didn?t know how long we would be stranded in San Juan and did not know many more details at the time. We were stunned, shocked and damn scared!!! This could not be happening to the United States, a country where we all took for granted that wars just did not happen here.
It was now Tuesday evening and we called the airport for updates on our flight while watching those horrible and ugly events that had occurred that morning in NY, Washington and Pennsylvania. It was not until the next evening, Wednesday, that American Airlines finally confirmed that our flight to Aruba would be departing San Juan, Saturday afternoon, September 15th.
My husband and I had to get out of the hotel room, get away from all those horrific events being replayed over and over on the TV and try and get on with our disrupted vacation. It was extremely depressing to watch!
When we did finally venture out into town, we found there were a pair of armed police officers with bulletproof vests located on each street corner in the city. Security officers, police and military personnel were everywhere. Cars entering parking garages were being searched underneath for anything suspicious looking. Armed security personnel were in the Marriott Hotel lobby preventing anyone without a room card from entering the elevators.
During our unexpected four day stay in San Juan, we stayed at two different hotels, ate at several restaurants, shopped in a number of stores and found everyone was extremely pleasant and went out of their way to help those who were stranded. It was very helpful to know that people were coming together and helping one another.
When Saturday finally arrived, we were told to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before our flight was to depart. There would be increased security everywhere!!! With thousands of other stranded travelers waiting to check in for various flights, the airport personnel seemed to be doing a good job at keeping the lines moving and we got through the check-in and security procedures in about 1-1/2 hours.
Due to a shortage of airline crew, our flight was delayed by about three hours. It was very nerve-wracking to actually board the plane that day after all that had happened in the previous few days, but we knew we had to get on with our lives. Our worries were constantly being alleviated by airline personnel. I insisted on shaking the pilot?s hand just to relieve some of the stress I was feeling at that moment about flying once again and was assured by him that we would arrive safely at our destination. When asked by the flight attendant if I cared for a cocktail or some sort of beverage, I immediately responded with a ?YES? just so I could calm my fears somewhat. We arrived in Aruba later that day and proceeded to continue with our vacation plans.
During our stay in Aruba, people everywhere were very pleasant and went out of their way to help us. The government of Aruba planned a beautiful memorial and prayer service for all Americans living and staying on the island. Many Aruban clergy offered prayers and words of encouragement. A local Arabian choir sang America?s and Aruba?s National Anthems along with several familiar hymns. A resource center for stranded visitors had been set up at the Sonesta Hotel offering free telephone and email services and other assistance. Most hotels offered special rates for those stranded. The Aruban people again showed their caring and friendly personalities to everyone in this difficult time.
We returned from Aruba on schedule with no further problems, but?Life would never be the same again. It will never be the same again for anyone here in this country or I believe, in this entire world.
Will we fly again some day? I believe we will, but we will never take these airline flights for granted again. We will look more closely at our fellow passengers from now on and will try to be more aware of our surroundings.
Life will never be the same again for anyone in the United States or anywhere in this world.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Karen E. Booth
Hillsborough, NH
P.S.
It has now been one year since these tragic events happened. During all this time we have learned that the young gentleman who sat next to me at Boston's Logan Airport and who had looked directly into my eyes was indeed, NOT a terrorist but instead was a victim of Flight #11. I will never, ever forget that young's man's face for the rest of my life.
Sitting in the waiting area trying to wake up with a cup of coffee, we watched as a ?red eye? flight arrived from Los Angeles at the next gate to the one from which our flight would leave. About 40 people disembarked from that flight and disappeared into the crowd. It was at that time that we noticed that the same aircraft would be turning around and heading back to Los Angeles at 7:45 am and would be known as American Airlines Flight #11.
We sat and watched as the waiting area began to fill with people waiting to depart on both the San Juan and Los Angeles flights. We noticed people gathering in the same waiting area who would board Flight #11 but did not pay much attention to their faces, except for two individuals.
One was a young woman in a wheelchair apparently traveling alone, assisted by an airline attendant. She had an obvious injury to her ankle and had a small carry-on bag and a pair of crutches. The attendant wheeled her to a stop near the gate and helped her into a regular chair. The young woman gave a polite and very sweet ?Thank you? to the attendant. I paused to look at her for a few moments wondering if I should offer to help her with her things, but decided against it since she seemed to be handling things well.
A few minutes later, a young gentleman, very American looking, strolled over to where we were sitting, and took a seat next to me in the waiting area. He looked directly into my eyes but didn?t say anything. I didn?t think too much of it. (Later that same day, my husband and I would remark that this young man acted somewhat suspicious and walked into the waiting area with absolutely nothing in his hands?no baggage of any kind, briefcase, notebook, bags or paperwork.)
Within a few minutes, our flight was being called to begin boarding and we walked down the jetway never to look back again. We thought no more of this period of time, for it was just like any other time waiting to board an airplane for any other trip we have been on.
By 11 am that same day, we landed at San Juan, Puerto Rico, ready to change planes and continue on our trip to Aruba. We disembarked questioning why there had been no usual announcement of where to meet our connecting flight, so we checked the monitors for information. The monitors indicated that all flights into and out of San Juan airport had been cancelled.
We thought this strange and walked to the American Airlines service desk to ask for information on when our flight would be departing. We stood in line for 45 minutes with several people ahead of us who were trying to arrange connecting flights to their destinations. We found it strange that the ticket agents weren?t able to help many passengers with their flights.
Others around us started calling their offices, homes, etc. to notify people of their flight changes. Word started circulating that there had been some kind of airplane disaster involving the World Trade Center in New York. We were hearing all kinds of stories and rumors. Aircraft had crashed into the Pentagon, the US Treasury Building or Camp David, the President?s Summer Retreat. My husband and I both could not believe what we were hearing! What was going on here??? What was happening???
We frantically dug our cell phone out of our carryon luggage and tried calling one of our daughters back in NH but to no avail. Alas only an answering machine! I left a message just to say we were safe and where we were at that moment. We continued to wait in line at the airline?s service desk when a supervisor announced that the San Juan airport was being closed and evacuated. Everyone was given a list of hotels in the area with their appropriate phone numbers. We were to call a hotel, reserve a room, pick up our luggage, and leave the airport immediately! The airport was now closed and we could no longer ask any further questions.
We were all very scared! We did not know what to expect next. Everyone was directed outside the terminal where taxis were waiting. There was another hour of waiting for a taxi to take us to a hotel. Each taxi was filled with people according to the location of the hotel where they had made reservations. Although most people didn?t really know what was going on, thousands were being moved out of the airport in a relatively organized fashion.
Through all of these events going on, the airport never disclosed to any of us what was happening in the United States at that moment. When we arrived at our hotel, we were told that the hotel would be charging ?distress rates? instead of the usual nightly rates because of this horrendous disaster going on and the number of people stranded in San Juan. No one knew when the airport would be opened again. No one knew when we could continue on to our previously appointed destination.
As soon as my husband and I were in our room, we turned on the television to CNN and realized that the U.S. had been attacked by terrorists and that hundreds if not thousands of people had been killed. What was going to happen next? Where were these terrorists going to strike next? We continued to watch the news broadcasts while we dialed each of our six daughters at home to let them know where we were and that we were safe, at least for now.
We didn?t know how long we would be stranded in San Juan and did not know many more details at the time. We were stunned, shocked and damn scared!!! This could not be happening to the United States, a country where we all took for granted that wars just did not happen here.
It was now Tuesday evening and we called the airport for updates on our flight while watching those horrible and ugly events that had occurred that morning in NY, Washington and Pennsylvania. It was not until the next evening, Wednesday, that American Airlines finally confirmed that our flight to Aruba would be departing San Juan, Saturday afternoon, September 15th.
My husband and I had to get out of the hotel room, get away from all those horrific events being replayed over and over on the TV and try and get on with our disrupted vacation. It was extremely depressing to watch!
When we did finally venture out into town, we found there were a pair of armed police officers with bulletproof vests located on each street corner in the city. Security officers, police and military personnel were everywhere. Cars entering parking garages were being searched underneath for anything suspicious looking. Armed security personnel were in the Marriott Hotel lobby preventing anyone without a room card from entering the elevators.
During our unexpected four day stay in San Juan, we stayed at two different hotels, ate at several restaurants, shopped in a number of stores and found everyone was extremely pleasant and went out of their way to help those who were stranded. It was very helpful to know that people were coming together and helping one another.
When Saturday finally arrived, we were told to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before our flight was to depart. There would be increased security everywhere!!! With thousands of other stranded travelers waiting to check in for various flights, the airport personnel seemed to be doing a good job at keeping the lines moving and we got through the check-in and security procedures in about 1-1/2 hours.
Due to a shortage of airline crew, our flight was delayed by about three hours. It was very nerve-wracking to actually board the plane that day after all that had happened in the previous few days, but we knew we had to get on with our lives. Our worries were constantly being alleviated by airline personnel. I insisted on shaking the pilot?s hand just to relieve some of the stress I was feeling at that moment about flying once again and was assured by him that we would arrive safely at our destination. When asked by the flight attendant if I cared for a cocktail or some sort of beverage, I immediately responded with a ?YES? just so I could calm my fears somewhat. We arrived in Aruba later that day and proceeded to continue with our vacation plans.
During our stay in Aruba, people everywhere were very pleasant and went out of their way to help us. The government of Aruba planned a beautiful memorial and prayer service for all Americans living and staying on the island. Many Aruban clergy offered prayers and words of encouragement. A local Arabian choir sang America?s and Aruba?s National Anthems along with several familiar hymns. A resource center for stranded visitors had been set up at the Sonesta Hotel offering free telephone and email services and other assistance. Most hotels offered special rates for those stranded. The Aruban people again showed their caring and friendly personalities to everyone in this difficult time.
We returned from Aruba on schedule with no further problems, but?Life would never be the same again. It will never be the same again for anyone here in this country or I believe, in this entire world.
Will we fly again some day? I believe we will, but we will never take these airline flights for granted again. We will look more closely at our fellow passengers from now on and will try to be more aware of our surroundings.
Life will never be the same again for anyone in the United States or anywhere in this world.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Karen E. Booth
Hillsborough, NH
P.S.
It has now been one year since these tragic events happened. During all this time we have learned that the young gentleman who sat next to me at Boston's Logan Airport and who had looked directly into my eyes was indeed, NOT a terrorist but instead was a victim of Flight #11. I will never, ever forget that young's man's face for the rest of my life.
Collection
Citation
“story1820.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 10, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/4779.