Death Ruled Accidental, Heart Condition A Contributing Factor

The widow of the captain of United Flight 93 … which went down in a Pennsylvania field on 9/11 as passengers fought to regain control of the airplane …  died in May of an accidental overdose of prescription medications complicated by a heart condition and alcohol use.

The Associated Press reports that Sandy Dahl, age 52, suffered from a heart condition known as right ventricular dysplasia. The Jefferson County, CO, Coroner said Dalh, who was on several prescription medications for the condition as well as anxiety, died from acute heart failure brought on by a mixture of the prescription medications and alcohol. His autopsy said that she had taken anti-depression, anti-anxiety, painkiller, and tranquilizer drugs before she died.

Dahl, who had been married to Flight 93 Captain Jason Dahl, reportedly passed away on May 25th. She had founded a scholarship in her husband's honor to help young pilots in their flight training. She was also a frequent public speaker on the topic of 9/11.

She told the Denver Post in an interview last year that her visible role connected with the events meant the tragedy was never far from her mind, and that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Coroner ruled that her death was accidental.

(NPS Photo Flight 93 Memorial)

FMI: www.nps.gov/flni