Today, nineteen years ago, a catastrophic event changed the way we see the world.
On September 11, 2001, the deadliest terrorist attack in human history occurred, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths and 25,000 injuries.
Worldwide, we watched in horror as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, causing both towers to collapse, and one plane crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense.
The unimaginable horror of what happened that day will be forever etched in our memories, with thousands of people going about their day unaware of the events about to unfold.
But the passengers on the four planes hijacked that day would have spent their final moments in fear, trying to reach their loved ones.
For one victim, his last act on the fourth hijacked plane, United Flight 93, initially heading towards Washington D.C., was described as “one of the bravest things one can imagine.”
American TV host Mike Rowe paid tribute to Tom Burnett, an American hero who was one of the people on board the plane who managed to thwart the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in a field in Pennsylvania.
All 44 people on board the plane perished, but no one on the ground was injured.
In a Facebook post by the Discovery Channel host, he recounted Burnett’s final actions and paid tribute to the hero, husband, and father of four from California.
“I’m on a plane that’s been hijacked. I am putting a plan together. Tell the kids I will call them later,” were Burnett’s words to his wife in a phone call, wrote Rowe.
Rowe honored Burnett and his selfless actions that prevented the plane from crashing into the U.S. Capitol building, which reportedly was the intended target.
“Tom’s final act on earth was one of the most courageous acts imaginable. And his last words to his wife, Deena, are among the most inspiring I’ve ever heard,” Rowe wrote.
“Those exact words are at the top of this page, and at the bottom. They were spoken 18 years ago, under circumstances I hope never to experience. I will never forget Tom’s final words. I hope you won’t either.”
Rowe published a transcript of the final conversation Tom Burnett had with his wife Deena, revealing that he knew exactly what the hijackers were doing and how he went to great lengths to stop them, without considering his own safety.
In his first call to his wife, he tells her the hijackers have just killed a passenger and told people on board they have a bomb, instructing his wife to call the authorities.
Deena calls 911 and shortly after, the pilots of the U.S. Air Force are alerted to intercept the plane before it reaches Washington.
Burnett, who at the time was vice president of a medical equipment company, then calls his wife again and tells her he tried to help the stabbed man but couldn’t find a pulse, and then provides her with more details about the hijackers’ plans.
“They’re talking about crashing this plane. (pause) Oh my God. It’s a suicide mission… (he then tells the people around him),” Burnett says.
Burnett then calls his wife again and provides her with more details.
We must do something
“They’re talking about grounding this plane. We need to do something. I’m coming up with a plan,” he says.
“Who’s helping you?” Deena asks.
“Several people. Multiple people. There’s a group of us. Don’t worry. I’ll call you back,” he replies.
Burnett along with fellow passengers Mark Bingham, Todd Beamer, and Jeremy Glick devised a plan to stop the hijackers and led other passengers in this attempt.
In his fourth and final call to Deena, despite his wife’s plea not to draw attention to himself, he tells her he can’t wait for the authorities to join him: “Deena! If they’re going to ground this plane, we gotta do something!”
Deena tells her husband she loves him, and his final words to his wife were, “Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.”
Burnett was recorded on the cockpit voice recorder shouting, “Roll it!” possibly in reference to using the food and drink cart. The hijackers crashed the plane in a field.
A foundation was established in honor of Burnett’s bravery by his family members “dedicated to helping the young people of our nation become good citizens and future leaders of tomorrow.”
None of us knows what we would do when faced with such horror and knowing our fate is sealed. Burnett and the fellow passengers who helped stop the hijackers died as heroes.
Countless lives were saved that day by the selfless actions of these individuals. Help us honor these heroes and share this story.
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