'I was frustrated as I had to change my flight, then...' Former IBM executive recalls how he missed ill-fated plane on 9/11

The 9/11 terror attacks in the US remain one of the most shocking incidents in living memory. Even after 23 years, visuals of planes hitting the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York remain fresh in the minds of millions.

CREDIT: AP

9/11, the terror attack that changed the world

A total of four flights ¡ª American Airlines Flight 11, American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93, and United Airlines Flight 175 ¡ª were hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists to carry out one of the worst terror attacks in history.

While American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 hit the World Trade Center, American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, killing everyone, including the passengers, crew, and hijackers onboard.

Former IBM Executive recalls 9/11

Bill Ellmore, a former IBM executive, could have been one of the nearly 400 ill-fated passengers, but he was saved at the last minute.

CREDIT: LinkedIn/ Bill Ellmore

"I was booked on United Flight 93 on 9/11, 2001, flying nonstop from Newark, NJ, to San Francisco, CA. Around midnight the night before, a coworker called me, urging me to change my flight to fly into San Jose instead. This meant I had to move to a flight that boarded 20 minutes later (from the same gate) with a stopover in Denver. I was very reluctant to do it, but I did," Ellmore wrote on X.

'I saw second plane hitting WTC'

When he reached the airport, Ellmore was upset seeing people boarding Flight 93, which was leaving early while he waited for his flight.

"When we were three planes away from taking off, the pilot told us to look out the right side of the plane because it appeared the Twin Towers had been hit by a plane. I thought it might have been a small Cessna until I saw the second plane strike the other tower. We were grounded just before taking off," Ellmore recalled.

I was booked on United Flight 93 on 9/11, 2001, flying nonstop from Newark NJ to San Francisco CA. Around midnight the night before, a coworker called me urging me to change my flight to fly into San Jose instead. This meant I had move to a flight that boarded 20 minutes later¡­ pic.twitter.com/qBeST0uQJU

¡ª Bill Ellmore ? (@BillEllmore) September 11, 2024

CREDIT: AP

'9/11 changed me'

According to Ellmore, 9/11 changed him forever and made him thankful for being alive.

"I now take every opportunity I have to watch and, if possible, get to know the people I¡¯m boarding a plane with. I never hesitate to give up my seat for a later flight if requested," he said.

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