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American Airways pilot remembers father who was traveling hijacked flight on 9/11: ‘We will under no circumstances forget’

American Airways pilot remembers father who was traveling hijacked flight on 9/11: ‘We will under no circumstances forget’
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Tom McGuinness, a pilot for American Airlines, is urging his fellow aviators to honor the memory of those people who died on 9/11 by exhibiting gratitude for what they have. McGuinness was just 14 when his possess father, also an American Airlines pilot, was flying a single of the planes that was hijacked by terrorists and flown into the Entire world Trade Centre. (Johan Ordonez/AFP through Getty Pictures)

CHICAGO (WGN) — Tom McGuinness was 14 a long time old on September 11, 2001. His father, also named Tom, went to do the job that day as a pilot for American Airlines. He was the initially officer on American Airways flight #11 when it took off from Boston heading for Los Angeles. 

Early in the flight, hijackers commandeered the plane and flew it into the North Tower of the Earth Trade Center, the very first strike in a terror assault that reverberates to this working day.

Two many years later on, that 14 yr-old boy is also now a pilot for American Airways. And this weekend, he’s urging his fellow pilots to honor the the memory of these dropped on 9/11 by becoming grateful for what they have

“Those that know me know I don’t generally lead my introduction with my personal connection, nevertheless, I was 14 yrs aged when 9/11 occurred, and the [first officer] on AA 11 was my dad,” McGuinness wrote in a write-up shared on the Allied Pilots Association website.

Most are even now in mourning in excess of the decline of daily life experienced that working day, McGuinness acknowledged. But he also urged readers not to forget the way our nation — and his marketplace — pulled together in the aftermath of the attacks.

“The way our place came alongside one another, the way our crews dealt with every other and our travellers, and the way my dad lived his everyday living are all shining illustrations of what we want to don’t forget this weekend,” McGuinness stated.

Airline staff for American and United Airlines are viewed at a wreath-laying ceremony on September 11, 2021, for their colleagues who died in the assaults on 9/11 in 2001. (Spencer Platt/Getty Illustrations or photos)

He remembered his father as an accomplished Navy aviator and F-14 Tomcat pilot who usually set his spouse and children and religion 1st in lifetime. 

“As we try to remember our very own tales this weekend, consider a couple of minutes and be grateful for what we have. For these with young children, spend time displaying them illustrations of compassion and kindness. This style of remembrance would honor our pilots and exemplify what my father stood for,” McGuinness mentioned in the article.

McGuinness extra that he hopes persons will not only concentrate on the sadness of September 11, but the items of existence. He also thanked airline passengers who could possibly be traveling this weekend, for being vigilant.

“Together, we bear in mind what took place 20 several years ago on board our plane, and we will in no way overlook,” he explained.