The Stories Of The Forgotten Children Who Died In The 9/11 Attacks

Just before 9am on the morning of September 11th 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airlines mid-flight; each plane intended to strike prominent U.S. buildings.

The first plane targeted that day was American Airlines Flight 11.

After departing from Boston’s Logan International Airport, the flight was headed for Los Angeles International Airport.

Just 15 minutes into the journey, the first five hijackers injured three passengers—possibly killing one—during a violent struggle that erupted when they forcibly breached the cockpit and overpowered the captain and first officer.

It was the courageous actions of flight attendant Betty Ann Ong that first alerted air traffic controllers to the hijacking.

Remaining calm and composed throughout the 23-minute ordeal, Betty provided crucial information to air traffic controllers, including the identities of the hijackers and updates on the unfolding situation aboard the plane. For her bravery, she became known as “the hero of 9/11.”

Tragically, Flight 11 was the first plane to be deliberately crashed that day, striking the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan. The lead hijacker was later identified as Mohamed Atta.

Seventeen minutes later, the South Tower was struck by a second hijacked plane, United Airlines Flight 175. Like Flight 11, it had departed from Boston’s Logan International Airport with Los Angeles as its intended destination. All 65 people on board were killed, along with an unconfirmed number of victims in the building’s impact zone.

Thirty minutes into the flight, lead hijacker and trained pilot Marwan al-Shehhi forcibly breached the cockpit and seized control, mirroring the attack on Flight 11.

Aware that their fate was sealed, many passengers and crew members made phone calls and left messages for their families, providing updates on the unfolding situation and saying their final goodbyes.

Victims

The youngest known victim of the attacks was Christine Lee Hanson, a two-year-old passenger on Flight 175.

Born on February 22nd 1999, in Groton, Massachusetts, Christine was travelling that day with her parents, Sue and Peter Hanson.

Peter was one of the passengers who documented the hijacking through two phone calls to his father.

During the calls, he described how the terrorists were armed with knives, mace, and possibly a bomb, and reported that a flight attendant had been stabbed. He expressed his belief that the hijackers intended to crash the plane into a building. The call ended abruptly, but before it disconnected, Peter reassured his father, saying, “If it happens, it will be fast.”

Christine was a sweet little girl who loved helping her father in the garden, planting trees, and even talking to the flowers, telling them how pretty they were.

Her nana was her best friend, and she delighted in sharing the events of her day over the phone, always ending each call with, “I love you, Namma.”

The family had been traveling to visit relatives in Los Angeles and had also planned a trip to Disney World. In her memory, a tree was later planted at Christine’s preschool, accompanied by a plaque honouring the little girl who had loved nature so dearly.

The second youngest victim was another passenger on Flight 175: three-year-old David Gamboa-Brandhorst.

David was born on June 23rd 1998, in Los Angeles, California. He was traveling that day with his fathers, Ron Gamboa and Dan Brandhorst, who had adopted him at birth.

Born just one day after Dan’s birthday, both fathers had been present in the delivery room to welcome him into the world. Friends described David as the “loving focus of their lives.”

David loved playing with Lego and swimming. Unlike most children, he also enjoyed eating his vegetables—once choosing a side of cherry tomatoes over ice cream and cake at his cousin’s birthday party.

David called Ron “Daddy” and Dan “Papa.” The couple had also planned to adopt more children so that David would not have to grow up as an only child.

On September 11th, the family was returning to their Los Angeles home after visiting friends in Maine. Tragically, they never made it.

A monument in tribute to David and his fathers now stands in a West Hollywood park. A brass plaque reads:

"Just five more minutes, Daddy"

— a permanent tribute to the fun-loving toddler who cherished playing there with his Daddy and Papa.

Another child on board Flight 175 that fateful day was four-year-old Juliana Valentine McCourt.

Born on May 4th 1997, in New London, Connecticut, Juliana was traveling with her mother, Ruth McCourt, on their way to Disney World.

Ruth’s best friend and godmother to Juliana, Paige Farley-Hackel, was also joining the mother and daughter on their trip. However, instead of purchasing tickets for the same flight, Paige used her frequent flyer miles with American Airlines and opted to book a seat on Flight 11, which was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles around the same time as Flight 175.

Tragically, Paige would be the first to lose her life that day when the ill-fated Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower.

In a tragic twist of fate, Juliana’s uncle—Ruth’s brother and a software salesman—was inside the North Tower that morning attending a meeting.

Fortunately, he managed to escape before the tower collapsed, but he witnessed the plane crash into the South Tower, unaware at the time that his sister and niece were on board. He later told ABC News that he believes Ruth guided him safely out of the building.

After their deaths, Juliana’s father, David McCourt, established a fund in memory of his wife and daughter, naming it the Juliana Valentine McCourt Children’s Education Fund.

The fund’s mission was to teach children to live without hatred. Sadly, David passed away from cancer in 2013.

American Airlines Flight 77 was the third flight attacked that day. Departing from Dulles International Airport, its intended destination was also Los Angeles.

Less than 35 minutes into the flight, hijackers stormed the cockpit and forced all passengers, crew, and pilots to the rear of the aircraft.

Hani Hanjour, a hijacker and trained pilot, then took control and deliberately crashed the plane into the west side of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., at 9:37am.

On Flight 77 that day were the final five child victims of 9/11. Three of them were gifted sixth-graders being rewarded for excelling in an essay-writing contest. The 11-year-olds were traveling to California to enjoy a four-day trip sponsored by National Geographic.

Bernard Curtis Brown II was born on June 19th 1990, in Washington, D.C.

Unlike many children his age, Bernard loved school. According to his mother, Sunita, he would “pop right up” every morning, rushing out the door to Leckie Elementary School—but never before making his bed, tidying his room, and ironing his clothes without being asked.

Bernard was often found reading or studying, and due to his academic achievements, he was one of just three students from elementary schools across Washington to earn the trip.

Beyond his studies, Bernard was passionate about basketball and dreamed of playing professionally one day.

In preparation for his upcoming trip, Bernard had just received his dream pair of shoes—Air Jordans—which he wore on September 11th.

Ironically, Bernard’s father, a Navy serviceman, was working at the Pentagon when his son’s plane was deliberately flown into the building. Adding to the tragedy, Bernard had been afraid of flying. It was his father who had persuaded him to go on the trip the night before, reassuring him that everything would be fine.

Another sixth-grader on that ill-fated school trip was Asia Sivon Cottom, a student at Bertie Backus Middle School, born on January 13th 1990, in North Michigan Park.

Though Asia was new to her school in Northeast Washington, staff knew her well, as her father worked there as an aide.

Asia had a kind heart and often helped fellow students who struggled with learning difficulties.

Neighbors often saw Asia playing in the neighborhood with her younger brother and walking him to the bus stop for school. She was a polite child who greeted everyone with a sweet smile and a cheerful “hello.”

Asia was wise beyond her years and a positive influence on her young cousin, once reminding him not to eat too much popcorn or he’d “get sick.”

Asia’s strongest subjects were Math and Science, in which she showed a natural talent. She dreamed of becoming a pediatrician when she grew up.

Despite her academic focus, she retained a childlike innocence and loved the cartoon character Tweety Bird. Her mother, Michelle, later shared that Asia had even worn her “Tweety gear” for the flight that day.

Above all, Michelle spoke of her daughter’s deep faith, which became a source of comfort for the family after the tragedy. She remarked:

The third and final child on the school trip was Rodney Dickens, born on February 20th 1990, in Washington, D.C.

Although Rodney grew up in one of the tougher neighbourhoods, he overcame every obstacle and earned a place on the honour roll at Ketcham Elementary School.

He loved reading, playing computer games, and was a big fan of Pokémon. Rodney came from a loving family and was especially close to his mother, LaShawn, and his siblings. After his passing, a classmate remembered him as a kind boy who often helped his peers with their homework.

According to his aunt, Cynthia Dickens, Rodney’s greatest passion was professional wrestling. He watched it religiously whenever he could—whether at his family home in Congress Heights, his grandmother’s nearby apartment, or his uncle’s house, where he could catch pay-per-view events.

Cynthia said: "I don't care what he was doing, he made it home to see wrestling".

The final two child victims of Flight 77 were sisters: Dana Falkenberg, aged 3, and Zoe Falkenberg, aged 8.

The Falkenberg sisters, Dana and Zoe, were tragically killed alongside their parents, Charles Falkenberg and Leslie Whittington.

The family hailed from University Park, Maryland, but Leslie had recently received a job offer in Canberra's Australian National University. The family were relocating to Australia for two months.

Dana, with her curly hair, humor, and charm, was born later to her parents, who considered her their “miracle child.” She attended Greenwood Nursery School and was completely enamoured with princesses.

Zoe was the family’s cherished first-born. A top student, she was admired by both classmates and teachers at University Park Elementary School. Zoe was also an enthusiastic Girl Scout, a dedicated ballet dancer, and a talented swimmer.

In a tragic twist of fate, the Falkenberg family had not been on their originally intended flight. They had missed an earlier connecting flight and were placed on Flight 77 instead.

The final plane to crash that day was United Airlines Flight 93, which had departed from Newark International Airport, bound for San Francisco.

Forty-six minutes into the flight, four hijackers stormed the cockpit. Thanks to the bravery of the passengers and crew, the terrorists were unable to carry out their plan to crash the plane into a building. Instead, Flight 93 went down in a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania—about 130 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.

In an effort to thwart the hijackers, the quick-thinking pilots deactivated the autopilot, and several passengers courageously attempted to regain control of the plane after learning, via phone calls, about the earlier attacks that morning.

Tragically, the struggle ended in the deaths of all on board. However, the passengers’ bravery prevented the plane from reaching its intended target, ultimately reducing the overall fatalities of the September 11 attacks that day.