On September 11, 2001, eight dedicated flight deck crew members lost their lives while attempting to defend their aircraft from hijackers. On American Airlines Flight 11 (North Tower), the pilots were Captain John Ogonowski and First Officer Thomas McGuinness. On United Airlines Flight 175 (South Tower), the pilots were Captain Victor Saracini and First Officer Michael Horrocks. On American Airlines Flight 77 (Pentagon), the pilots were Captain Charles Burlingame and First Officer David Charlebois. On United Airlines Flight 93 (Pennsylvania), the pilots were Captain Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer Jr. These individuals were the first line of defense in an unprecedented act of terrorism; in particular, the crew of Flight 93 is remembered for their role in the passenger-led uprising that prevented the aircraft from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. In 2026, these pilots are honored annually at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where their names are etched in bronze alongside the flight attendants and passengers who perished with them. Their legacy also lives on through the "Federal Flight Deck Officer" program, which was created in the aftermath of 9/11 to allow trained pilots to carry firearms in the cockpit for defense.