Photo Credit: US Air Force
Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, who was ordered to stop the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 from reaching Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, is retiring after over 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Sasseville was the F-16 pilot tasked with the unthinkable - being prepared to shoot down the hijacked civilian airliner if it would not divert from its course toward the nation's capital.
"If those heroes on [Flight] 93...hadn't taken action...it would have been a very different outcome for me and my family," Sasseville said in an interview, referring to the passengers who overcame the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania instead of reaching its intended target.
The 9/11 Commission Report stated that at 10:30 a.m. on September 11th, after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Air Force Col. Anthony J. Bakx gave Sasseville and his wingman the revising order: "Okay...Bam 4900. Remain over the Capitol area...What I want you to do is to put a couple...into the Pentagon area to intercept anything you can."
Sasseville recounted having to prepare himself mentally for that scenario. "We had taken [the order] and recognized the gravity of the situation and the potentials...And we were very focused on...what that day might have in store."
Retired Air Force Col. John Sastry, who was Vice Commander of Sasseville's fighter wing that day, said of his bravery: "To have to make that decision to stop a civilian aircraft from hitting a target in Washington D.C., that's pretty awesome stuff. Marc has never really talked about it."
After serving for over 30 years, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sasseville is leaving the Air Force on a high note. Gen. Mike Loh, Director of the Air National Guard, praised him: "Marc...has been an exceptional leader who has had an incredible impact on our Air Force."
As he retires, Sasseville remains appreciative of the actions of the passengers on Flight 93 that spared him from having to take the drastic measure he was prepared for that fateful day. Their courage and sacrifice over Shanksville undoubtedly saved many lives in the nation's capital.
