If you are traveling on Wednesday, September 11, you’ll notice flags flying at half-staff at airports around the country to mark the 23rd anniversary of 9/11.
Here’s what they’re honoring:
On September 11, 2001, four airplanes were hijacked as part of a coordinated plan.
Two planes originated at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS); one left from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD); and one departed Newark International Airport (EWR), now Newark Liberty International Airport. The two planes hijacked after leaving Boston Logan International were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
The plane hijacked after leaving Dulles International hit the Pentagon, near Washington, D.C.
The fourth plane left Newark International Airport and crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Nearly 3000 people were killed that day and many more were injured.
On Wednesday you’ll see and be invited to join airport and airline staff who will pause activity at 8:46 a.m. (EDT). They will observe a moment of silence timed to the exact time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
We’ll try to post the Tweets and messages airports share about their events marking the day. If we miss yours, please send it along.
9/11 Memorial at Boston Logan International Airport
If you are traveling to or from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on September 11 – or anytime – keep in mind that the airport has a 9/11 Memorial honoring the passengers and crews of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175. Those are the two planes that left Logan for Los Angeles but were hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Towers in New York.
The Place of Remembrance – near the Hilton Hotel at Logan – has landscaped paths leading to a large glass cube featuring two glass panels etched with the names of every person aboard each flight.
Visitors can go inside the cube and look up at the sky through a prism of reflective panels. At night, the cube glows with a soft light.
