“SEARED In My Memory” Captain Steeeve on Cheating Death After Almost Flying 9/11 Plane, 25 Years On

Piers Morgan interviews Captain Steve Shidner, a former American Airlines first officer based in Boston who says he was originally assigned as the right-seat pilot for American Airlines Flight 11 on 11 September 2001 but was bumped at the last minute by a more senior pilot, Tom McGinness. Shidner describes seeing his name on the flight manifest on 10 September, packing to fly to Los Angeles, and then not receiving the usual confirmation call. He says he spent 9/11 on a US Navy base—where he was working as a reservist—watching events unfold without realising for most of the day that Flight 11 was the trip he had expected to fly.

He recounts discovering the crew manifest later that night and seeing airline system wording indicating the flight ‘never made it to its destination’, and describes the emotional aftermath for his family. Shidner also says American Airlines scheduling called him on the afternoon of 9/11 offering him a trip the next day—again, Flight 11—before flights resumed several days later. He recalls returning to the air on the renamed Boston–Los Angeles service (Flight 25), and says he personally thanked the small number of passengers who boarded.

The conversation touches on forgiveness and faith, Shidner’s contact with McGinness’s widow, his view that institutional failures contributed to 9/11, and his rejection of demolition conspiracy theories. He also outlines how pilot training and cockpit security doctrine changed after 9/11, moving from compliance and negotiation towards resisting cockpit breaches.

• Steve Shidner says he was initially assigned as Flight 11’s first officer on 9/11 but was bumped by a more senior pilot the day before.
• He says he did not realise Flight 11 was the hijacked aircraft until later that night, after checking the manifest.
• Shidner recounts an afternoon 9/11 call from American Airlines scheduling offering him a trip the next day, which he says was Flight 11 to Los Angeles.
• He describes speaking by phone with Tom McGinness’s widow and calls the conversation ‘awkward’ given the circumstances.
• Shidner says he returned to flying when services resumed, on the renamed Boston–LA Flight 25, and personally thanked passengers.
• He argues 9/11 exposed institutional failures and rejects claims the towers were brought down by explosives.
• Shidner says cockpit training shifted after 9/11 from compliance/negotiation to resisting takeover attempts.