“If those heroes on [hijacked flight] 93 … hadn’t taken action … it would have been a very different outcome for me and my family,” U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville said.
A military pilot who was given the grave task of stopping a hijacked plane on Sept. 11, 2001, has now retired.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville recently reflected on one of his most critical missions during those tragic events over 20 years ago.
Back then, Sasseville was an F-16 fighter pilot and, along with fellow pilot Heather Penney, was ordered to prevent United Airlines Flight 93 from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C.
“My challenge was, how do we take down this very unique threat, a civilian airliner … full of people, full of civilian people?” Sasseville mentioned in an interview.
Without missiles on their jets, Sasseville and Penney considered an extreme measure: ramming the hijacked plane with their own F-16s to divert it, which would have meant a suicide mission.
“The training kicked in,” he recalled. “I felt like I was on autopilot.”
Despite having a family at home – a wife and two young children, aged five and three – Sasseville was determined to lead the mission. Penney stated that he “didn’t ask anyone else to lead that mission,” and “He wouldn’t ask anyone else to give what he was unwilling to give.”
In the end, the brave passengers on Flight 93 managed to fight back against the hijackers, steering the plane away from its target. The plane crashed in an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, losing all onboard but avoiding further catastrophe.
“If those heroes on 93 … hadn’t taken action, and they hadn’t done what needed to be done, it would have been a very different outcome for me and my family,” Sasseville reflected.
After returning to base, Sasseville and Penney were tasked with escorting Air Force One, carrying President George W. Bush, back to Washington, D.C.
This pivotal event and its aftermath have been a “motivating imperative” for Sasseville, pushing him to “look forward and be prepared for future challenges.”
His dedication and service over 40 years led him to become a three-star general and the second-highest-ranking officer in the National Guard.
Sasseville took his final flight in an F-16 on May 15 from Joint Base Andrews.
On May 29, he celebrated with his wife and three children. During his speech, he said, “It has been a tremendous honor and a privilege to serve, and a truly rare opportunity for me and my family to make a difference. Now, you have the watch. Thank you all.”
