Local Flight Attendant Recalls Attacks of Sept. 11

Like many Americans, Judy Murphy watched in horror as the planes hit the Twin Towers on 9/11. She was in the comfort of her own home in Will County, but there was nothing comforting about that day.

After Osama bin Laden was killed, Murphy discussed what it was like to be a flight attendant during that time and how the infamous day and changed the way we travel.

“It was devastating, it was frightening,” said Murphy, a United flight attendant for 43 years. “It was sad.”

She had come home from Hong Kong just a day earlier, and on 9/11  started her scheduled vacation. After she saw the second plane hit, she tried to find out who the crew was on board.

“I actually had access to the computer that we use as flight attendants, so that we know the schedules,” she explained. “It listed the names of the crew members.”

The people who worked on those flights were not based in Chicago. She said she did not know any of them personally.

“I did know a few names,” she said.

The flight attendants who were in Europe scheduled to return that day were re-routed. Many of them ended up in New Foundland for about five days, she said.

“So we kept in touch through computers,” Murphy explained. “That helped a lot just to talk with other flight attendants through all of that.”

When Murphy heard that bin Laden was killed, she said she extremely sad for the people who were lost on 9/11.

“I hope that brings closure to those who lost loved ones, friends or family,” she said. “It’s just profoundly sad, the whole thing.”

Since 9/11, Murphy has seen some changes in the airline industry. She explained that everyone is much more aware, both crew and passengers. It is a situational awareness the crew has at all times, she said.

“We are very aware of what is going on and take it very seriously,” she said.