Twenty-five years ago, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists walked through four U.S. airports and boarded four different aircraft, which they used to carry out one of the worst enemy attacks on U.S. soil in our nation’s history. Not one person at the four airports used by the terrorists to attack reported anything suspicious. Not one.
Prior to the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001, some of these terrorists took flight training classes and earned their wings on U.S. soil at airports in Florida, Arizona, and Oregon. They spent weeks and months learning how to fly aircraft at these facilities. Not one person at these flight schools or associated airports reported anything suspicious. Not one.
Since no one working at these airports or flight schools identified suspicious persons or activity, no action was taken to prevent the attacks. By noon on that fateful day, 2,977 people were dead at the hands of the 19 terrorists who used our nation’s aviation system to prepare for and execute their plans.
On this day, as we solemnly remember what took place 25 years ago, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for each of us who work in the airport and aviation environment to pay attention, remain alert, and report anything suspicious. The bad guys still want to attack our national aviation system. All of us who work at the airport, regardless of our job, are on the front lines in defending our country against another 9/11 type of attack.
Let’s honor those who died on September 11, 2001, by remaining vigilant and doing our part to protect our airport, our aviation system, and our country. Let’s not be the airport that fails to report a suspicious person or activity that could lead to another attack.
Greg Kelly is the executive director of the Savannah Airport Commission
