I have always felt for this ticket agent in Portland, Maine.
22 years later there is one thing nobody fully knows - Why did Atta decide to rent a car in Boston and drive to Maine to then fly back to Boston to connect with Flight 11?
Early morning flights at the Portland Jetport were always a crapshoot because of fog.
After 9/11 airlines stopped flying the route.
The most bizarre part of 9/11 at least in my opinion.
Like you, I always felt bad for the agent especially because he thought about not letting them go. I will say, because of him, one of the suitcases was held back at Logan and that, along with Amy Sweeney and Betty Ong, helped them identify who was responsible quickly.
I am listening to Mitchell Zukoff's book "Rise and Fall" and they said the crew supervisor for American had a chilling stare down with Atta just before Flight 11 departed.
I remember the day like it just happened. A lot of people say it changed them and I know I changed that day. It was the jolt I needed to get my shit together. After 9/11, I committed myself to school and to joining Student Government which helped me realize helping people came in many different ways.
22 years ago I was an 18 year old, 3 weeks shy of turning 19 who was hellbent on proving everyone, including my own family, that I was smart and could make it in the world. 9/11 was my reality check. It is only recently that I have been able to look at this anniversary in a new way. I am sad and angry but at the same time grateful.
I was in English class so I never saw any of it live. I thought someone had bombed Boston's World Trade Center. It wasn't until after I stepped out of the voting booth and saw the towers fall on replay that I realized what had actually happened. Dad and I watched 7 World Trade come down live on ABC and also the President. I went to the memorial later that week on City Hall Plaza.
I'll never forget and I send my love to all of our HF Family who were directly impacted or have friends or family who were. I also send my love to those who still struggle with this day.