The Tribute in Light rises behind the Brooklyn Bridge and buildings adjacent to the World Trade Center complex late Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014, in New York. The tribute, an art installation of 88 searchlights aimed skyward in two columns, is an annual remembrance of the September 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the twin towers after 19 men hijacked four fuel-loaded commercial airplanes bound for west coast destinations.
     A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC, and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, orchestrated by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
     Also in the picture, the jewel-like pinnacle of the new World Trade Center towers above everything, lighting up the night at an historically significant 1,776 feet.

     This series of comments are part of many that were written for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, when air cargo people related their feelings surrounding the events during and after that fateful day of September 11, 2001.
     These stories marked an industry first - FT turned over the storywriting to its readers, the air cargo community, to tell how that fateful day affected them and this industry collectively.

Harald Zielinski
Head Of Security And Environment
Lufthansa Cargo

      On September 11th, I was doing work as Head of Valuable Cargo Services here at FRA. I got a call by a friend who made me aware of the first aircraft crashing into the tower. I turned on the TV and had a look to get an overview. You have to know: I had just returned from a duty trip to NYC on September 8th and I really like NYC a lot.
      That day changed air cargo a lot. Nothing happened the very next day, but change has been continous and long lasting. I became Head of Cargo Security, a position we had not had before in Lufthansa Cargo. Since 9/11, we have increased by more than ten-fold the amount of money we spend on security, and we continue to improve in order to stay a market leader in cargo security.
      Cargo became important to the authorities, but, sorry to say, even today I know a few big states which do not take enough care with cargo, so there is room for improvement and for little ol’ me to make people aware of steps that need to be done.
      Lufthansa Cargo is well prepared when it comes to security, but we need to ask and challenge ourselves every day to be sure we are on the right track. We are ready for the challenges that may come up in any future planning, and we are taking security as a major and priority topic.
      The industry should speak with one voice in fighting for a worldwide, harmonized security regime. We are logistic people and we should now how much better one single and unified process is, in comparison to myriad different ones.

Carmen Taylor
Managing Director
American Airlines Latin America Division

     That morning I was flying to YVR for a "final" interview . . . I had applied for the position of Latin America regional manager for oneworld . . . at that time oneworld was headquartered in YVR...obviously my flight never took off . . . (was scheduled to leave DFW at 8:30am, CST). As a side note, I am a member of AA's CARE program (Customer Assistance Response Employee) . . . this means that while at the airport waiting for my flight that never took off, I identified myself as a CARE member and was immediately 'deployed' at DFW Control Centre where I worked for 48 hours straight.
     This event affected all of us . . . the way we live, the way we think and behave . . . our jobs! A big impact on the transportation industry including cargo, the main impact is a significant increase in costs to both carriers and shippers.
     Everyone - carriers, freight forwarders, shippers understand the necessity of security and the investment needed from all of us.
     Air cargo is going to require a more and deeper collaboration involving all parties.

Peter Scholten
VP Commercial
Saudia Airlines Cargo Company

     I was in my office in Nairobi working as Managing Director for KenCargo Airlines (now Kenya Airways Cargo). The 9/11 attacks in USA hit Kenya with a major shock because of the bomb attacks at the American embassy in Nairobi earlier. Like many other people in Nairobi I was afraid of more attacks in the city again. As the events unfolded in the U.S. my thoughts were that things in the aviation business would never be the same again. Until that day I never realized how vulnerable our industry is for terrorism.
     In the late evening we had a crisis meeting with the management team of Kenya Airways where we had to decide to ground the entire fleet the next day until liability issues with the insurance companies were sorted out with the government.
     9/11 changed the air cargo business forever. The procedures for delivery of export cargo as well as the handling of transit cargo in our hubs in Saudi Arabia are very complex and will continue to change. At Saudia Cargo we work closely with the security authorities to ensure we are compliant with all requirements.
     Security today has seen a major development in the last 10 years. Both airlines and forwarders have made significant investments and efforts to ensure that the air cargo industry meet the ever changing security requirements.
      As an industry we need to continue to work with authorities on local and global level as we have done since 9/11.

Pictured the bronze plates that are part of the WTC Memorial Pools. The names of the nearly 3,000 individuals killed in the September 11 attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, and in the February 1993 World Trade Center bombing are inscribed in the bronze parapets surrounding the two one-acre sized pools – the former footprints of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. The 9/11 Memorial Museum opened May 2014.

     On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in our JFK office (Building 151 at that time) preparing for a meeting with our U.S. based managers. Some had flown in the night before and some were flying that morning. Subsequently, they all had a story to tell.
     My wife was at home in Rhode Island watching the news. Shortly before 9am, she phoned to tell me that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers. I went to our main sales office, looked out the window, and in the distance could see what appeared to be smoke coming from the north tower. My first thought was that it was probably a small private plane that ran into trouble. Then reality set in. It was unthinkable! I quickly had a very sick feeling in my stomach.
     In the aftermath, our business has forever changed. Air cargo security continues to become increasingly sophisticated, increasingly complex and increasingly expensive. The investments are enormous and the approved technology is oftentimes short-lived. There is a critical need for lawmakers to better listen to industry experts and for governments to reach some common ground on acceptable security processes and procedures. A more universal approach will further strengthen worldwide air cargo security while minimizing the escalation of associated costs.

    I was a forwarder serving on the Airforwarders Association Board of Directors and had flown into Seattle from D.C. for a meeting the night before the tragic day. My first concern of course was for the welfare of my family and employees back in Washington since events were rapidly unfolding.
     As for the air cargo industry, my primary concern focused on the fact that terrorists had used aviation as an effective attack mechanism and the airfreight system could be used as well. I wondered if those lawmakers not familiar with the business would enact legislation that would ban shipments on passenger planes and if so, what effect would such an initiative have on the industry and most importantly, our nation's economy.
     Following 9/11, there were many short-term changes. In response to the attacks, improvements were introduced to address gaps in security. It is important to note that the industry changes all the time as it adapts to new technology, regulations and emerging threats. The most significant change came a few years after 9/11 when in 2007; the US Congress passed a federal mandate to screen 100% of air cargo flying on passenger flights in the U.S. within three years.
     The legislation included the Certified Cargo Screening Program or CCSP. This is the system in place in the U.S., and the entire supply chain is involved in screening and security from the time the box is packed to delivery at its final destination. The industry endured growing pains as they paid out of pocket to become certified screening facilities in order to secure the flow of cargo.
     Looking to the future, focusing on improving aviation security and eliminating redundancies in TSA's air cargo security policies are the issues AfA will continue to push forward. Our recommendations are focused on:
          o   Harmonization of domestic security programs
          o   Advancement of national air cargo security programs with other nations
          o   Expansion of the existing CBP/TSA Air Cargo Advanced Screening pilot program
          o   Improvement of TSA inspector training
          o   Formalization of stakeholder engagement
          o   Expansion of canine detection units in pallet screening
          o   Fast tracking technology research and certifications