On September 11, 2001, when commercial airplanes were turned into deadly missiles by terrorists, the entire American sky and ground fell into an unprecedented crisis. Twenty-five years have passed, and the harrowing moments of that day have become a historical imprint. However, for those air traffic controllers, intelligence investigators, and frontline firefighters who experienced the tragedy firsthand, the terrifying memories of the world-changing terrorist attacks have never been erased.
At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, retired former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control supervisor Michael McCormick is lecturing students on air traffic management. Facing many young faces born after 2001 in the classroom, he emphasizes a belief repeatedly: “Never forget, always remember, never happen again.”
Meanwhile, in Lower Manhattan, 65-year-old retired firefighter Sal Argano is sitting near the open doors of FDNY’s “Ten House.” This small fire station, located just a street away from the World Trade Center site, is well-known.
Argano told the Associated Press that as the last firefighter stationed at the station in 2001 and still working there today, he patiently answers questions, shakes hands, and takes photos with visitors every day.
Twenty-five years have passed, and while the traces of the 9/11 attacks have been covered by newly built skyscrapers and memorial plazas, “witnesses on the scene” like McCormick and Argano continue to hold their positions, passing on the indelible memories in their own ways.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, the sky was clear with no clouds. At 8:42 a.m., McCormick’s BlackBerry received a message: “Suspected hijacking. American Airlines Flight 11.” A few minutes later, this Boeing 767 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
FAA intelligence expert Chris Rocheleau recalled that initially, everyone thought it was just a small plane or a sightseeing helicopter accident.
However, as the second plane – United Airlines Flight 175 headed towards New York, McCormick realized that a crisis was unfolding: “We were under attack, be prepared for any situation.” At 9:03 a.m., the control team witnessed the second plane crashing into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
“They were using planes as weapons (missiles),” McCormick said. At 9:05 a.m., he calmly returned to his post and announced the New York Center’s “ATC Zero,” forcibly clearing the airspace.
Subsequently, American Airlines Flight 77 plunged into the Pentagon, while United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania during passenger resistance.
At 12:16 p.m., all 4,500 aircraft in the U.S. were grounded, and the skies fell silent.
At the same time, chaos engulfed the ground. Facing the World Trade Center, Ten House was among the first units to respond to the rescue efforts. On that day, Argano was temporarily reassigned to Brooklyn and was not at the station.
“If I had not been reassigned that day, I most likely wouldn’t be here today,” Argano said. When he rushed back to downtown, he found this small fire station severely damaged when the Twin Towers collapsed but miraculously still standing.
He later learned that out of the 343 New York firefighters who perished in the collapse of the World Trade Center, six were from Ten House.
After the attacks, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Erik Grosof boarded a special plane bound for New York. As the aircraft landed at LaGuardia Airport, he looked out from the cockpit to see the once familiar city skyline now shrouded in darkness, emitting thick smoke. He was dispatched to the temporary command post of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Manhattan, where for 99 days, the air was constantly filled with the smell of “burning wet garbage.” He coordinated with airlines to care for the families of the victims and assisted in the search for the flight data recorders.
In Washington, Rocheleau worked continuously for months, assisting in the global manhunt operation codenamed “PENTTBOM,” tracking the backgrounds and training paths of the hijackers, and advocating for the establishment of the “no-fly list” and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In 2002, he, as a special agent of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, traveled to Middle Eastern regions such as Saudi Arabia undercover to gather intelligence to ensure the safety of frontline pilots.
As the rescue efforts unfolded at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, the long and arduous process of reconstruction began. Ten House became a command center and shelter for rescue workers.
Over time, team members witnessed the rebirth of the area firsthand at the forefront: the once busy construction site turned into two memorial waterfall pools engraved with the names of nearly 3,000 victims, and the underground 9/11 Museum.
Today, Ten House not only undertakes daily emergency response missions but has become an integral part of the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Faced with crowds of tourists, Argano always advises the young firefighters at the station – many of whom were born after the attacks – to respect every visitor.
He said, “We have a firefighting mission, an emergency response mission, and a responsibility to the outside people.”
Though years have passed, the witnesses of that day are gradually retiring, but the memories have not faded. Robert Favata hopes to pass on the stories told by senior team members to the younger generation; Captain Terence Brody will retire after a career filled with memories in the streets; and Argano continues to drive the fire truck of the Tenth House, not planning to stop anytime soon.
“I’m not finished yet. As long as I can, I will stay here,” Argano said. “I will continue to tell them what I know, what I’ve seen, what I’ve been through. Tell them the history of this fire station. Remember everything I can.”