Betty Ong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betty Ong
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| 鄧月薇 | |
Betty Ann Ong
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| Born |
Betty Ann Ong
February 5, 1956 |
| Died | September 11, 2001 (aged 45) New York City, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Plane crash following terrorist hijacking |
| Occupation | Flight attendant |
| Known for | alerting American Airlines staff of Flight 11's hijacking |
| Betty Ong | |||||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 鄧月薇 | ||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 邓月薇 | ||||||||||||||||
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Betty Ann Ong (born February 5, 1956 – died September 11, 2001) was an American flight attendant. She worked for American Airlines. On September 11, 2001, she was on Flight 11. This was the first plane hijacked during the September 11 attacks.
Betty Ong was the first person to tell authorities about the hijackings. She quickly called American Airlines from the plane. She stayed on the phone for 25 minutes. During this time, she shared important information. This information helped the FAA close the airspace. This was the first time this had ever happened in U.S. history. Because of her bravery, the 9/11 Commission called Betty Ong a hero.
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Betty Ong's Early Life
Betty Ann Ong was born in San Francisco on February 5, 1956. Her family came from Kaiping, China. She had two sisters, Cathie, and a brother, Harry. As an adult, she enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies.
Betty was once asked to be a model. But her mother did not approve of this job. So, Betty worked at her parents' beef jerky factory instead. Her sister Cathie Ong-Herrera shared a story about Betty's calm nature. Once, robbers held a gun to Betty's head at the factory. Cathie said Betty "never panicked." Betty just told her dad they were being robbed. The robbers took the money, and Betty remained calm.
In 1987, Betty saw a car accident on U.S. Highway 101. A speeding truck hit a car, and it rolled over. Betty ran to help. She found the driver was Jo Ellen Chew, someone she had met before. Jo Ellen said Betty showed "courage, kindness, [and] compassion." She called Betty's actions "a miracle!"
Betty Ong was engaged to Robert Landrum.
Flight 11 and Her Heroic Actions
On September 11, 2001, Betty Ong chose to work on Flight 11. She wanted to return to Los Angeles. From there, she planned to go on vacation to Hawaii with her sister.
During the hijacking, Betty used a special phone. She called American Airlines from the back of the plane. She told the supervisor that the plane had been taken over. She and another flight attendant, Madeline Amy Sweeney, reported the seat numbers of three hijackers.
Betty also reported that the crew could not reach the cockpit. The cockpit door would not open. She said that a passenger, Daniel M. Lewin, and two flight attendants, Karen Martin and Bobbi Arestegui, had been stabbed. She also thought someone had sprayed Mace in the business class area. At the time of her death, Betty Ong lived in Andover, Massachusetts.
Betty's Important Phone Call
Betty Ong's phone call lasted for 25 minutes. She spoke with American Airlines staff. Here are some key parts of her call:
- Betty told them she was Flight Attendant Number 3.
- She reported that the cockpit was not answering.
- She said someone was stabbed in business class.
- Betty mentioned a strange smell, like mace, making it hard to breathe.
- She confirmed the flight was Flight 11, going from Boston to Los Angeles.
- Betty said two flight attendants, Karen and Bobbi, had been stabbed.
- She explained they could not get into the cockpit because the door was locked.
- American Airlines staff quickly understood it was a hijacking.
- They contacted Air Traffic Control.
- They learned the plane's transponder was off, so its exact location was unknown.
- Betty stayed on the line, giving updates.
- Near the end, the connection was lost.
Betty's quick thinking and detailed information were very important. They helped authorities understand what was happening.
Betty Ong's Legacy
On September 21, 2001, many people gathered in San Francisco. They honored Betty Ong. The Mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown, declared September 21 "Betty Ong Day."
In 2002, Betty Ong, Madeline Amy Sweeney, and Flight 11 Captain John Ogonowski received the first Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery. This award honors people from Massachusetts who show great courage in saving lives.
Betty's remains were found in March 2002. She was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.
In 2011, a recreation center in San Francisco's Chinatown was renamed for her. It is now the Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center. Betty played there as a child.
Her name is also on the National September 11 Memorial in New York City. It is on Panel N-74, with others from Flight 11.
Betty Ong is also remembered in a mural called Gold Mountain. This mural celebrates Chinese contributions to American history. It is on Romolo Place in North Beach, where Betty used to play.
The Betty Ann Ong Foundation was created to honor Betty. It helps children with nutrition, health, and leadership skills. The foundation also works to keep air travel safe. In 2013, it spoke out against allowing small knives back on planes. Betty's sister, Cathie, said that the 9/11 attacks began with knives. She stressed that safety for everyone is most important. The plan to allow knives was stopped.
Betty Ong in Media
Betty Ong's story has been told in movies and TV shows.
- Jean Yoon played her in the 2006 ABC miniseries The Path to 9/11.
- Jane Zhang played her in the 2004 BBC show Zero Hour.
A part of Betty Ong's phone call was used in the 2012 movie Zero Dark Thirty. The movie used the call without permission from Betty's family. Her family asked the movie company to make a donation in her name. They also wanted the movie to say that Betty's family does not support torture.
See also
