San Francisco Bay Area Flight Attendant Honored as 9/11 Hero for First Hijacking Report
San Francisco Bay Area flight attendant Betty Ong is being remembered as a 9/11 hero, having been the first to report a hijacking before her plane struck the World Trade Center; her family continues to honor her legacy through acts…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, September 9, 2026 —
Betty Ong, a flight attendant based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is being widely remembered as a hero for her actions on September 11, 2001. Ong was the first to report a hijacking incident while aboard American Airlines Flight 11 before it tragically impacted the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Her calm and detailed reporting provided crucial early information to authorities about the unfolding events, making her an integral figure in the timeline of that devastating day. Ong’s actions are credited with being the first official notification of the hijacking of a commercial aircraft.
Details from her calls indicated that the hijackers had taken control of the cockpit and had harmed the flight crew. This communication allowed authorities to begin understanding the scope of the coordinated attacks.
In addition to her heroic reporting, Ong’s legacy is being carried forward by her family. They continue to honor her memory through ongoing acts of kindness, perpetuating the spirit she embodied. The specific nature of these acts of kindness was not provided in the available information.
Ong, who resided in the San Francisco Bay Area, was one of the 87 passengers and crew members aboard American Airlines Flight 11. The flight departed from Boston Logan International Airport en route to Los Angeles International Airport.
Her family’s dedication to remembering her through kindness serves as a testament to her character and the impact she continues to have. The details surrounding the specific timeline of her reporting and the family’s ongoing memorial activities were not further detailed.
Story summarized from the original created by Kristen Sze on abc7news.com, see more information here.
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