Betty Ong remembered for heroic 9/11 emergency call

As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, flight attendant Betty Ong is being remembered for her heroism aboard American Airlines Flight 11. Ong made the first emergency call from a hijacked aircraft, providing critical intelligence to the airline’s reservation center in North Carolina.

During the call, Ong reported that the cockpit was unresponsive and described a chaotic scene involving stabbings and the use of chemical spray in the cabin. She stated, “The cockpit’s not answering. Somebody’s stabbed in business class and — I think there’s mace — we can’t breathe. I don’t know, I think we’re getting hijacked.”

Her detailed reporting allowed Air Traffic Control to treat the situation as a confirmed hijacking and move other air traffic out of the aircraft’s path. Investigators believe her actions contributed to a nationwide ground-stop order that likely saved hundreds of lives. The Flight 11 aircraft was ultimately flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.