I was a senior in High School on 9/11/2001 so I don't have nearly the real world connections some do -- but had it not been for that event at that time I may have pursued a career in aviation. An older cousin narrowly avoided being on one of those flights for reasons I don't recall.

I think the industry has generally tried to downplay it--i get that--scaring passenger isn't good for business.

I'm sure I've flown on 9/11 a few times before, but I'm in flight now and this just feels so different and routine at the same time. My wife and I are currently a bit west of Ireland on 919 LHR-IAD... One of the flight attendants just got on the PA, reminded us all of the event and requested a moment of silence at 9:03 EDT.

That hit me really hard. Talking with my friends at CLE on the start of this trip who were working tht day seemed...abstract? Remote? But hearing a that PA from a FA has made my eyes water more than a little.