preface
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack occurred in the United States that shocked the world:
Four civilian airliners were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon respectively, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring nearly 10,000 people, and the entire United States was plunged into chaos for a time...
And just when the United States police were anxious about this, a Chinese flight attendant who was hijacked on the plane left a 20-minute recording, but revealed all the truth about the incident.
So, what exactly does the recording say?
911 Incident
On September 11, 2001, the United States was hit by an unprecedented terrorist attack that shocked the world and will change the world forever:
At 8:46 a.m. local time, a hijacked United States Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York, and for a time black smoke covered the entire sky.
At this time, many witnesses thought it was just an accident and couldn't help but start watching.
But just 17 minutes later, another hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center, causing great damage again.
It was only at this time that people finally realized that it was a deliberate terrorist attack, and for a moment screams rang out and the whole city became chaotic.
The New York Fire Department and Police Department responded immediately, and hundreds of firefighters and police officers risked their lives to rush into the smoking building to rescue them.
At the same time, thousands of citizens began to evacuate from the World Trade Center and surrounding buildings. Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror and chaos, people scrambling to flee, and the streets filled with smoke and debris.
Just as New York was in turmoil, Washington, D.C. was also targeted:
At 9:37 a.m., United States Flight 77 crashed into the southwest side of the Pentagon, causing serious damage to the building and causing a fire.
What people didn't know at the time was that there was actually a fourth hijacked plane in the sky, and its original target was an important government building in Washington, D.C.
However, when the passengers on board learned of the other hijackings, they fought valiantly with the hijackers, and in the end, the plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m., killing all 44 people on board.
But even so, the situation in New York continues to deteriorate...
At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed as the world watched. Just 28 minutes later, the North Tower collapsed.
Two iconic buildings that once stood tall in the New York skyline were reduced to rubble in less than two hours, and smoke and dust enveloped Lower Manhattan.
The casualties of this attack are staggering:
According to the final count of the New York City government, the World Trade Center killed 2,753 people, including 343 firefighters and 60 police officers, and the Pentagon death toll was 184, plus the passengers and crew of the four planes, and the "9 · 11" incident killed nearly 3,000 people in total.
And just after the incident, when the United States police were busy investigating the details and process of the attack, a recording of Deng Yuewei, a Chinese flight attendant on the plane, provided great help.
So, what's in the recording?
Deng Yuewei
Deng Yuewei is a veteran flight attendant who has worked for United States Airlines for seven years, and she has accumulated a wealth of experience in her career and has a keen insight into aviation service and passenger behavior.
On September 11, 2001, Deng Yuewei boarded the flight as usual.
But what seemed like a normal workday quickly turned into a nightmare, and as she navigated the cabin, she keenly noticed the unusual behavior of several passengers, who seemed to be extremely nervous, exchanging meaningful glances from time to time, as if plotting something.
Deng Yuewei's years of work experience made her immediately aware that something was wrong, and with her professional intuition, Deng Yuewei realized that these people could pose a threat to flight safety.
Instead of acting rashly, she quickly and cautiously reported her observations to the crew leadership.
As it turned out, Ms. Deng's fears were not unfounded, as the suspicious passengers were the same people who planned the terrorist attack, a group of extremists from the Middle East.
Despite this, Deng Yuewei discovered the anomaly in time and acted quickly, but the tragedy was still inevitable:
Over the next 20 minutes, Ms. Deng calmly and in detail reported to ground control the hijackers' seat numbers, their numbers, and the types of weapons she had observed they might be carrying.
This information is critical for personnel on the ground to understand the situation and develop coping strategies.
However, even with this valuable information, the situation deteriorated rapidly.
The hijackers soon took control of the plane and began to carry out their nefarious plans. In the process, Deng Yuewei and other crew members and passengers became innocent victims of this terrorist act.
Although Deng Yuewei did not survive in the end, her professionalism and courage in the critical moment are worth remembering forever, and the information she provided became an important clue in the post-incident investigation, helping the police to restore the truth of the incident more quickly.
Deng Yuewei's heroic actions touched many people. To commemorate her contributions, the City of San Francisco has announced that February 11 will be celebrated as "Deng Yuewei Day."
This decision is not only a personal tribute to Deng Yuewei, but also a collective tribute to all the heroes who died in the "9·11" incident.
In order to inherit her spirit, Deng Yuewei's family established the "Deng Yuewei Memorial Foundation". The main goal of this foundation is to help more young people get an education and create a better future for them.
In this way, Deng Yuewei's family hopes to continue her contribution to society and let her spirit continue to influence more people.
The work of the Foundation has received extensive support from all sectors of society. Many people were touched by Deng's story and generously donated money to support the foundation.
A number of businesses have also stepped on board, offering internships and career guidance to help sponsored students better plan for the future.
Each year, the Foundation hosts a commemorative event where the students are invited to share their learning experiences and future plans.
The growth and progress of these young people has become the best commemoration of Deng Yuewei. Some of them chose to engage in the aviation industry, hoping to escort the safety of passengers like Deng Yuewei; Others are committed to contributing to society by devoting themselves to public service.
Deng Yuewei's story has also been written into some school textbooks, and has become a vivid teaching material for cultivating students' sense of responsibility and courage. By telling her story, teachers teach students to stay calm and take responsibility in the face of danger.
As time passed, the haze of the "9·11" incident gradually dissipated, but Deng Yuewei's spirit still inspires people.
Her story reminds us to be vigilant in times of peace, and even more so in times of crisis. Her courage and sense of responsibility have become an invaluable asset to inspire future generations.