Source: Fortune.com
Summary
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda hijackers attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people. Several high-profile individuals, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and former Senator Mitt Romney, narrowly avoided the attacks due to last-minute changes. Lutnick’s brother, Gary, and many others at Cantor Fitzgerald died. Larry Silverstein, who had recently leased the towers, missed the attack due to a doctor’s appointment. Others, like chef Michael Lomonaco and Jim Pierce, also survived due to chance circumstances. The event reshaped American life and left lasting impacts on those who lived through it.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Howard Lutnick missed work because he took his son to school.
Larry Silverstein had a doctor’s appointment instead of a breakfast meeting.
Michael Lomonaco stopped for glasses and survived.
Some people were saved by the smallest of coincidences.
Author: Evan Null
How the Day Began
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers took control of four planes. Two hit the World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon, and one crashed in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died, most in New York. The attacks changed American life forever.
Survivors and Near Misses
Howard Lutnick, then CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, missed the attack because he took his son to school. His brother, Gary, died in the towers. Larry Silverstein had a doctor’s appointment instead of a breakfast meeting. His aide left just before the plane hit.
Chance and Circumstance
Michael Lomonaco, the chef at Windows on the World, stopped for glasses and was still there when the first plane hit. He survived, but more than 30 of his kitchen staff died. Jim Pierce, a managing director at Aon, moved meetings last minute and avoided the second tower.
Public Figures and Last-Minute Changes
Mitt Romney missed a press conference in New York due to a funding dispute. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, ran late for a meeting and avoided the North Tower. Jimmy Dunne, co-founder of Sandler O’Neill, was 50 miles away for a golf championship.
Entertainers and the Unseen
Mark Wahlberg canceled his flight a week early. Seth MacFarlane missed the same flight by minutes. Both were spared, though Wahlberg later faced criticism for his comments. The event left a mark on those who lived through it, and on the world.
