Skip to main content

Anonymous (not verified)

February 21, 2020

Betty Ong is indeed a courageous hero! I did not know anyone lost on that horrific day but I want her family to know I will NEVER forget! I am trying to read at least a little about everyone lost that day (except the terrorists) because they deserve to be remembered as individuals with a life story that was so much more than how they were taken. God Bless!

Published by Lori

Anonymous (not verified)

February 21, 2020

The entire country is grateful for the efforts of Ms. Ong to calmly relay information undoubtedly saving lives. Prayers of peace and comfort to her family and friends.

Posted by Sean Hacker

Alex (not verified)

August 12, 2022

I am from Reunion Island and a visitor of this website. even though I never knew Betty I wanted to express to the family how sorry I am over the loss of your loved one. She is hero. 

Rest in peace Betty you will never be forgotten.

Posted by Alex

Leonardo Jacks… (not verified)

September 28, 2023

Translation

Sou do Brasil e estou postando essa mensagem em reconhecimento ao ato de bravura de Betty! Nós nunca esqueceremos de você

Posted by Leonardo Jackson Julio

Add new Guest Book entry

Restricted HTML

  • You can align images (data-align="center"), but also videos, blockquotes, and so on.
  • You can caption images (data-caption="Text"), but also videos, blockquotes, and so on.
 

Guestbook comments are held until moderator approval.

In addition to this Guestbook post, if you are a family or friend of this victim, we welcome you to contribute photographs, documents, or stories to this Living Memorial page. To do so, complete this submission form . Your content will be reviewed by our team, and a staff member will reach out to you at your convenience.

 
In Remembrance
Age:
45
Place of Residence:
Andover, MA
Location on 9/11:
Aircraft
Occupation:
American Airlines | Flight Attendant/Pursur
Personal Memorial Website:
http://www.bettyong.org
Reflections:

Betty Ann Ong Foundation
Remembering 9/11 Hero Flight Attendant Betty Ong
FEATURE: Remembering 9/11 hero Betty Ong

Betty Ong's call from AA Flight 11:
Biography:

Betty Ann Ong was born on February 5, 1956, in San Francisco, California. She was the youngest of four siblings, a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was warm, caring, thoughtful, and considerate, always thinking of others before herself. Gifted with a sense of humor, Betty had a knack for making people feel comfortable and putting them at ease. She had a smile about her that could light up a room and lift up a spirit. She could feed laughter to anyone's heart.

Betty had a great love for children and senior citizens. She paid special attention to them whenever they were aboard a flight she was working. On many occasions, Betty would drive a half hour from her home, into Boston, to have lunch and take walks with senior citizens. She shared stories about her far away travels with the neighboring children and often had trinkets to give them. Betty worked as a flight attendant with American Airlines for 14 years.

She eventually rose to the position of a purser, a head flight attendant. Betty was a tireless worker. Whenever she worked a late night flight, she would never sit down and relax. Even when passengers were sleeping, she would walk down the aisles and softly talk to the passengers who were awake and provide blankets to those who were asleep. It would not be unusual to find Betty caring for a passenger's baby while their parent's rested.

On September 11, 2001, shortly after the takeoff of American Airlines flight 11 from Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts bound for Los Angeles, California, the airplane was hijacked (the first airplane of four to become hijacked that morning). During the hijacking, Betty placed a call to American Airlines reservation agents in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and relayed vital information about the identities of the hijackers and the hijacking situation on board the airplane.

Betty's telephone call was the first call and indication that America was under attack, and her call eventually led to the shutdown of all flights nationwide. Under extreme duress and horrific circumstances, Betty remained calm and professional during her 23 minute telephone call. Prior to the crash of the airplane at the North World Trade Center in New York, Betty selflessly asked the ground crew to “Pray for Us”, and not just for herself. The other flight attendants on the airplane relayed information for Betty to report while also trying to keep the passengers safe and as calm as possible during the terrifying flight. Betty Ann Ong and the flight crew of American Airlines flight 11 were truly professional and heroic for their actions and in the giving of their lives during the attack of America on September 11th, 2001.