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On the morning of September 11, 2001, the United States was rocked by a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that would forever change the country. Four commercial airplanes were hijacked by members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, and two of them were flown directly into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane was flown into the Pentagon in Virginia, while the fourth was destined for a target in Washington D.C. before the passengers on board attempted to overpower the hijackers and crashed the plane into a field in Pennsylvania.
On that fateful day, countless acts of bravery and heroism were displayed by ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. One such example was the actions of a flight attendant named Betty Ong, who was working on American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane to be hijacked and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Betty Ong was a veteran flight attendant with over 14 years of experience, and she had a reputation among her colleagues for her calm demeanor and quick thinking in emergency situations. When the hijackers took control of the plane, Ong immediately sprang into action, calling American Airlines' reservation center and providing crucial information about the situation on board.
Ong remained on the line for over 20 minutes, calmly relaying information about the hijackers, their weapons, and their movements to the ground staff. She described the situation on board, stating that the hijackers had sprayed some sort of gas in the first-class cabin and that several passengers, including two flight attendants, had been stabbed.
Throughout the call, Ong remained remarkably composed, providing critical information that helped American Airlines and law enforcement officials better understand the situation and respond to the unfolding crisis. Her bravery and quick thinking undoubtedly saved lives, and she has since been hailed as a hero for her actions on 9/11.
Sadly, Betty Ong did not survive the attack on the World Trade Center. However, her actions on that day will always be remembered as a shining example of the courage and selflessness that ordinary people are capable of in times of crisis. Her legacy serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of moments, there are always those who will rise to the occasion and act heroically to help others.
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