Cites Use Of Box Cutters On 9/11 As Reason For Their Opposition

The Betty Ann Ong Foundation, named for one of the flight attendants who lost their lives on 9/11, has issued a statement critical of TSA's planned policy change to allow some small pocket knives to be carried onto commercial airliners.

Thirty-three Flight Attendants were killed aboard the four hijacked flights: American Flight 11, United Flight 175, American Flight 77 and United Flight 93. Flight Attendants from each of the flights relayed critical information with the earliest pieces of intelligence from that day. The first of those calls was from Betty Ann Ong, a Flight Attendant aboard American Airlines Flight 11.

President and CEO of the Betty Ann Ong Foundation, Cathie Ong-Herrera, is the sister of American Airlines Flight Attendant Betty Ong. Through the Coalition, she said, "I read an article regarding the interrogation of a principle architect of the 9/11 attacks, and he said terrorists are trained to take down a camel with a small weapon. If a small pocket knife in the hands of a trained terrorist can kill a camel — they should not be allowed on airplanes."

"The horrific events that took place on the morning of September 11, 2001 began with the takeover of American Airlines Flight 11. Terrorists took control of the aircraft by first fatally stabbing two Flight Attendants with box-cutters. My sister, Flight Attendant Betty Ann Ong, along with the entire flight crew and passengers were murdered. There are no words to describe the gut-wrenching pain and grief our family has experienced — things that no other family should ever have to endure. I support the Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions' position to reverse the TSA's decision to allow knives and other dangerous objects on aircraft because it's about everyone's safety."

FMI: www.NoKnivesOnPlanes.com, www.afanet.org