Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11. And we all know 9/11 was September 11, 2001. Nineteen years ago the the World Trade Center towers here in New York came down after being struck by hijacked commercial airliners. Another jet hit the Pentagon and another hijacked jet crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when the passengers tried to save the plane from the hijackers. It was a terrible day.
I was home getting ready to go to work and was my my usual routine I was listening to news radio 88 as I was showering and shaving getting ready for work. I did this every day between 8:30 and 9:00 am. A report came over the radio that a small plane seemed to have hit one of the World Trade Center towers. The report peaked my curiosity but the reporter did not seem overly alarmed. It wasn’t until a traffic copter on the scene reported a second plane going into the second tower. The rest unfortunately is history.
The attacks had a huge influence on how we lived our lives going forward, especially as it applies to security. Airline security has changed forever. We now have the TSA at every airport and metal detectors and security has been increased. If you see something, say something. There is a much greater sense of awareness. And it does seem that air transportation is safer. But a potential hijacker only has to get it right once so for the last 19 years we have always been on our guard. And this is how it must continue to be.
Nineteen years ago we started a new normal and I am sure there will be a new normal as to all the precautions we will take to win the war against COVID 19. But be assured there will be new protocols concerning air quality on airplanes, cruise ships, theaters stadiums, safety in schools and universities and other large gathering places. And this will be so until we have a vaccine that immunizes from this virus. And some protocols will become permanent. The new normal is still emerging. So we will wait to see what the new normal is.
