Today marks 24 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that changed not just the United States but global aviation forever. For those of us who travel frequently, the impact remains visible every time we step into an airport.
24 Years Later, Air Travel Still Bears The Mark Of 9/11
Each year, I like to address the 9/11 attacks and in reviewing prior articles, I was drawn earlier today to my post on September 11, 2011, which was shockingly candid during a period of the blog in which I shied away from expressing my political and religious feelings. If you have a few minutes, it’s worth a read…and strikes me as just as true today as it was in 2011.
> Read More: Ten Years Later, Critically Examining 9/11
But 24 years after the 9/11 attacks (I’ve now lived almost 2/3 of my life after the attacks…oh how time flies), we still see it every time we fly.
Before 9/11, flying was a very different experience. Family members could walk with you to the gate, security was quick and relatively unobtrusive, and the notion of fortified cockpit doors or removing shoes at screening was unheard of. Air travel felt more open, almost casual, compared to the highly regulated, security-heavy environment we now take for granted.
The attacks exposed vulnerabilities that fundamentally reshaped aviation. The Transportation Security Administration was created, screening procedures were tightened, and security theatre became a regular part of the passenger journey. Some of these measures, like limits on liquids and requiring laptops to be removed from bags, are daily reminders of the events of that day (kudos to the Trump Administration for removing the onerous shoe removal requirement). Others, like secure cockpit doors, hardened flight decks, and expanded no-fly lists, operate more quietly in the background but remain just as consequential.
I was young when 9/11 happened, but I still remember the eerie silence of the skies in the days that followed and the shift in how we thought about flying. The innocence of boarding a plane without much worry never really returned. For the traveling public, that sense of freedom has been replaced with a permanent sense of fear.
None of this is to argue against the need for vigilance. Aviation security has evolved in ways that have helped prevent another catastrophic event. But 24 years on, it is clear the effects of 9/11 are built into the fabric of every journey we take, and I’m not sure whether that is something to celebrate or even tolerate as an acceptable trade-off to “keep us safe.”
CONCLUSION
9/11 remains a defining moment for aviation. Even nearly a quarter of a century later, its imprint is felt in the way we travel, the rules we follow, and the experience we endure at airports. As we pause to remember the lives lost, we also acknowledge that the legacy of that day lives on each time we fly.
I intend to address the tragic death of Charlie Kirk (and Melissa Hortman) in a future post, as there is a travel angle and even a link to 9/11, but today I will simply mourn for Erika Lane Kirk and her two kids, who lost their husband and father yesterday. What another tragic death in America and a reminder of the tragic loss on 9/11/2001, both fueled by ideological intolerance.
image: CCTV footage of hijacker in the early morning hours of 9-11-2001
9/11 is basically ancient history at this point. Even if that didn’t happen, surely aviation today wouldn’t look the way it did 24 years ago, as in 2001 it didn’t look like 1977.
America does a lot of things wrong, but I actually think they’ve got the airport security thing down pretty well. Rules are clear, there’s no arbitrary enforcement based on the feelings of the officer, and other than not being able to bring large liquids, I don’t see airport security as very intrusive.
Not to be a cynic, but do people really miss meeting loved ones at the gate? I think it’s nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Who has that much free time?
Speak for yourself. Meeting and seeing people off at the gate is still very much de rigeur for domestic Australian flights.
Good for those folks who do it. To me, driving to the airport, paying to park, clearing security, and watching a 737 de-board seems like a lot of work to see someone 5 minutes sooner than if you met them out front. I guess Australian people love their friends and family more than I do.
I think, as Antwerp mentions below, many people are nostalgic for the pre-9/11 era in general, and air travel back then is just one aspect of that era.
I’ve been reflecting a lot about 9/11 as of late. The amazement of realizing something so vivid was almost 25 years ago. Surprisingly a great deal of this “going back” (I’ve been reliving that time with a number of documentaries) is one of nostalgia. Not to 9/11 itself which was horrid, especially living in DC. But rather to the time which felt like the last moment in which there was a unified moment in our country. Before smart phones, the insanity of social media consuming us, before right wing MAGA and Fear, before Left wing factions, before the noise. It was just America. We had practical differences but were united when times were difficult.
Today? Imagine 9/11 happening today. It would throw our nation into a frenzied fit of destruction. We would not be able to handle it. Pragmatic and moderate thinking is gone. When you are at war with yourself you are easy prey for your enemies. Bin Laden today would have achieved a great deal more to his vision of America’s destruction. It would be easy pickings.
Don’t ever forget 9/11. Reflect as well how since that time our nation has become more vulnerable than ever. Liquids in carry on’s are the least of our problems.
It’s pretty sad that people are starting to forget the impact of 9/11 , and the fact that Charlie kirk would even be mentioned at the same time is pretty gross. One is a polarizing guy getting killed and one is the worst tragedy in the history of this country.
Also, illustrated by our vice president skipping the 9/11 memorial service to visit kirks family. That is a slap in the face to all 9/11 victims. At the very least he could have done both.
I bet you were one of those crazed leftists who cheered his cold blooded murder too.
I bet you are one of those foreigners that was dancing on rooftops cheering 9/11
Yeah, you were. Shocker
Sorry to burst your bubble since its looking like the shooter was a right wing follower of Laura loomer and nick fuentes… not a liberal. That must be your own personal 9/11… sucker
lol making things up now, pathetic.
Kids grandma said whole family is MAGA. Why cant you animals stop killing each other?
Eat my Sh&t loser, you know that’s a lie.
“worst tragedy in the history of this country”
I’m humming the song “We didn’t start the fire” as I type this. I remember 9/11/01 almost as if it happened yesterday in my mind and, indeed, I knew history was in the making. I was shocked that the L.A. Freeway drive to work was clear for that day. All air traffic was shut down for days. While other tragedies in the USA have had an impact such as the JFK assassination and Pearl Harbor, off the top of my head, 9-11’s immediate impact to our travel and economy nationwide was unprecedented.
Even back then, I felt we overreacted kicking off not one, but two wars, and not rebuilding the WTC towers allowing a terrorist to redefine the NYC skyline. I think the Israelis have a better strategy: Don’t allow the terrorists to terrorize. If someone happens, clean it up and move on. It’s awful, but that’s how life continues.
Then the kabuki security theater became an eternal punishment pretending that putting 10 100ml liquid bottles into a bag was somehow safer than just having a 1liter bottle. We all had to take off our shoes unless it was orthopedic shoes.
In the meantime, we live in terror in another aspect: Our public transportation overall isn’t safe. Matt mentions one event this week but another tragedy highlights this. You can’t ride modern city transportation in much of the west without some jerk blasting their mobile phone music on speakerphone or even mumbling and threatening those around them. We complain about “climate change” but yet we are car bound because so many don’t feel safe on a bus or train.
I missed not being able to escort loved ones to the gate, enjoying a cup of coffee before they left. My wife gets an escort pass for her 90 y/o father although sometimes she has to go Karen to get it.
And still 24 years later someone continues to make a ton of money by keeping the scam of limiting liquids through security.
No different than sporting events, movies and concerts.
It is different. These places you described are usually private so I get that they want to sell you overpriced beverages. Also, you are there for entertainment, it is your choice like going to a restaurant. There is no excuse for airports. Someone is making a lot of money managing the restaurants and stores after security.
Chuckling. I just snuck a bottle of wine into a venue last night while my wife brought chocolate and slim jims for our daughter. It’s not a new thing. I remember a movie theater security guard 45 years ago having fun going through everyone’s jackets looking for beers or even soda. Now, the movie theater we go to has minimal security so I routinely bring in cans of soda and chocolate but still spring for fresh popcorn for my daughter.
Not providing affordable concessions is an example of poor capitalism, IMO. Provide affordable concessions and people will be lazy and not bother to smuggle. I marveled in Eastern Europe when train and bus stations were actually good places to go to find food in their own right. One airport in Asia, as I recall, has such a good shopping experience people are penalized for going there without a flight.
Back to airports: I marvel at the wasted space of shops showing different bags nearly nobody is going to buy and nobody in them, presumably for some wealthy person to browse? Airport lounge space is crowded so why not build more? Nope: We need a dozen magazine stands selling lame sandwiches at $14 each. I look forward to going to Krakow airport and browsing the shops!
Sadly didn’t get the coverage it deserves today due to the other tragedy.
I truly hope next year gets honored better being the 25th anniversary. I just don’t think it gets the attention he deserves as the years go on.
I made a trip to the Flight 93 memorial a few years ago and it was one of the most emotional days in my life. Something everyone should do once if they can.
My feelings as well. The Flight 93 Memorial is an emotionally charged place. Hallowed ground that is chilling. The flight that the passengers recognized would be their last moments and still fought to stop the terrorists.
Thanks for this excellent comment Dave – hope to visit sooner rather than later.
Re: “ … crazed leftists… cold blooded murder .…”, most leftists are not crazed, especially not compared to most stupid racist bigoted uneducated righties, as your hero said “we love the undereducated”. And it wasn’t murder, it was justice for spreading so many lies and conspiracy theories.
Douchebag Dave Edwards, nice to see you posting civil comments, undoubtedly due entirely to my admonitions.
Sch*tt Hsuan & Dirtbag Derek, proving with your every (too frequent) comments that your nicknames are absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen lives than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming once again that you and other MAGAs are stupid hateful racist cretins. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your lack of character than to anyone you attack. You should crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out from you SHPOSs.
You just proved my point – claiming people like you aren’t crazed yet in the next line saying it was “justice” for Charlie Kirk to be killed because he was exercising his free speech rights (Lying and and spreading conspiracy theories in your words)
You are crazed and you are scum. I know that you’re just trying to get a reaction from us with these copy and paste comments but really, you’re no fun. You’re just boring. You can’t hold a candle to Aaron.
You don’t belong here. Expect w visit from ICE very soon
You don’t belong here. Expect a visit from ICE very soon
Expect a visit from the FBI child’s sex crime unit after they discover the contents of your hard drive.
Re: “You are crazed and you are scum.” Oh gee, I’m so upset, I’m gonna go cry in the corner, Sch*tt Hsuan insulted me. Yeah, NOT! Good to see that I own Sch*tt Hsuan every bit as much as I own Douchebag Dave Edwards and Sch*tt Hsuan is just as much of a toxic narcissistic projecting sociopath as Douchebag Dave Edwards (and your hero Donnie the Douchebag). Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your lack of character than to anyone you attack.
BTW, Douchebag Dave Edwards; inflation up, jobs down, USA an international pariah; probably what you as a complete moron consider to be “winning”.
Douchebag Dave Edwards & Sch*tt Hsuan & Dirtbag Derek, proving with your every (too frequent) comments that your nicknames are absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen lives than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming once again that you and other MAGAs are stupid hateful racist cretins. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your lack of character than to anyone you attack. You should crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out from you SHPOSs.
That’s my home airport PWM! Lucky to live 5 min away (I lived about 1 hr away at the time tho). For those wondering security used to be where you now exit thru the 2 automated hallways.