9/11/07 diary: A strange day to fly LAX to JFK
A day before I was scheduled to fly to New York, a colleague remarked, “So you’re flying on 9/11?” The strange travel date had never even occurred to me, as I have never had any qualms about post-attack flights. Indeed, having been in Toronto on Sept. 11, 2001, I was on a plane just a few days later, while many others drove across the country back to Los Angeles rather than fly.
That said, the mood on Tuesday at LAX was a little unnerving. As I approached the security screeners, the airport’s public-address system carried what sounded like an improvised commemoration of the attacks. As soon as I passed through security and made my way to my United gate at about 5:45 am, I heard a commotion and yelling behind me.
Three TSA agents ran up the stairs, urging me and a half-dozen other flyers to remain exactly where we were. My immediate conclusion was that the security area had been breached, and that perhaps all of Terminal 7 would have to be cleared and rechecked. But when I looked back at the security area, I noticed the TSA agents and a few passengers observing a mostly silent minute remembrance, with one middle-aged woman flyer holding a TSA agent’s hand.
“That is surreal,” I said to another passenger, who was clearly unnerved by the whole thing. “I thought there was a bomb or something,” he said.
Once on board United flight 20 to New York’s JFK, the out-of-the-ordinary mood continued. As a flight attendant pushed a cart of newspapers down the aisle, I remarked on a vase of roses on it.
“Who’s that for,” I said. “They were sent for 9/11,” she said, without much further elaboration.
Maybe all of this was why the 757—as well as much of Terminal 7 in those early morning hours—was only half full. It was very much a strange day to fly.
—John Horn, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Did you fly today? Or on 9/11? Share your memories and impressions….
[Editor's note: Horn is on assignment in New York, reporting on film and theater. His most recent Travel feature story was about a visit to NASA's Space Camp in Alabama with his son.]
8 Comments on “9/11/07 diary: A strange day to fly LAX to JFK”
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September 12th, 2007 at 12:04 am
I flew from Washington Dulles to LAX tonight (on 9/11). The Dulles airport was deserted. Everyone seemed a little uneasy, but the flight attendants were great. When we landed, the flight attendant announced, “Welcome to Los Angeles, and thanks for flying with us on this anniversary of 9/11.” I’m glad she didn’t say it at take off, but it was an appropriate remembrance on a very solemn day.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:53 am
YES! I flew on 9/11. It was a short flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, and I did consider it with a hint of caution. I remembered exactly what was going on 6 years ago, considering that Sept. 11 fell on the same day this year as it did then.
I decided to take the flight as a small act of defiance against terror. I will NOT be afraid, nor will I interrupt my life because of the thoughtless actions of others.
The sacrifice of those who were lost is made bearable when we continue to live the best American lives that we can.
September 12th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I flew September 11, 2007, LAX to Indianapolis. Terminal 1 was as empty as I’ve seen it at mid morning
September 12th, 2007 at 11:06 am
I flew Sept. 11 the JFK to LAX route in the afternoon. I think “surreal” is a good way to describe it. The airport seemed deserted, but the plane was full. In the afternoon there were no commerations or even mentions by airport staff or the pilot. I noticed TSA was checking IDs several times and the crew on my United flight was all male. My travel companion and I talked about it off and on. It was a great day to fly - uncrowded, lots of sunny weather over the Plains and probably the safest day to fly. I didn’t pick that day on purpose, but when I noticed the date I also didn’t hesitate. I remember all of those who gave their life that day and all those who continue to sacrifice for my freedom, and I must say, Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 was a truly beautiful day to fly across the Country and I am so incredibly grateful for that fact.
September 12th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I flew from the Bay Area to LAX on Sept 11. Everything seemed normal. Everyone seemed normal.
I didn’t even realize that I flew on Sept 11th until reading this article.
Resilience and Rememberance.
September 12th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Guys, thank you for sharing your experiences and your intentions from yesterday. We appreciate your sincerity.
Jen Leo
Keynote blogger, L.A. Times Daily Travel Blog
September 12th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
My husband flew a United flight from LAX to Boston on the morning of 9/11. It made us both uneasy and my husband really didn’t want to make the trip. But, it was a work obligation that he couldn’t get out of. He gave himself some extra time to get through security, but told me afterward that it took practically no time at all. I wondered if the airport was less crowded because people didn’t want to travel on 9/11. Anyway, he got to Boston’s Logan airport w/o any problems other than a 30 minute delay due to bad weather. I breathed a sigh of relief. After I thought about it, I remembered that he made the same trip to Boston exactly a year earlier on 9/11. I don’t know…it just doesn’t sound like a great day to travel, does it?
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
On 9/13/2001 I was in the very same
departure lounge from which 5 of
the terrorists left Boston.The security was intense with military guards with automatic weapons at the ready everywhere.
I found the atmosphere terrible and got out as soon as I could.