Let's roll: The heroism of Todd Beamer on Flight 93
His words became iconic. Todd Beamer, along with the other passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, stood up to the hijackers. Thanks to them, Washington was saved from another Al-Qaeda terrorist attack. Todd contacted a mobile phone operator on September 11, 2001, at the last minute. The recording of this conversation will forever be etched in history.
Todd Beamer was a customer service manager at Oracle Corporation. He left behind his sons David and Drew and his daughter Morgan, who was born after the tragic flight that claimed her father's life.
Beamer, who was on board Flight 93, contacted the telephone operator. He reported that a passenger had died onboard, and the pilot and co-pilot had been expelled from the cockpit and were likely injured. Lisa Jefferson, the operator who spoke to Beamer, heard him panic when the plane made a sudden turn. Todd told her that the passengers were planning to surprise the hijackers.
It didn't take long from the announcement to the execution of this plan.
"Are you guys ready? Okay. Let's roll!" - these words by Todd Beamer preceded the passengers' attack on the hijackers.
Thanks to this attack, the plane did not reach its intended target. Everyone on board died, but no one on the ground was killed.
The September 11 attack. Flight 93 was the only one that didn't reach its target
On September 11, almost 23 years ago, 19 terrorists hijacked four planes. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.
At the same time, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. – initially heading to the White House – and United Airlines Flight 93 flew towards the capital.
Flight 93 crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The words "Are you ready? Let's roll!" became so iconic that American soldiers reportedly used them during battles against Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in the following years.
The story of Beamer himself seems dramatic. His last words were heard by an employee of the mobile phone operator because, despite his efforts, he could not get through to his wife to tell her he loved her.
