I watched as 9/11 plane flew over my home – moments later my wife was killed

Charles and Katherine’s story began in 1988 in New York City. He was performing with a theatre group while she worked as a piano accompanist. The two met by chance outside the rehearsal hall and quickly became inseparable. Reflecting on their immediate connection, Charles remarked, “We met quite accidentally outside the rehearsal hall and we fell in love with each other in about two minutes, and that was it.” He later described his feelings for Katherine as hitting “the jackpot,” emphasizing that there was “no parting us.”

In 1989, Katherine introduced Charles to parts of her home country during visits to the UK, including areas in Wales such as Machynlleth and Llanfairpwllgwyngyll—names Charles admitted he struggled to pronounce. Their relationship blossomed, with Charles recalling, “It was just the beginning. We had a wonderful, wonderful relationship.” Their life together in New York was profound, but tragically altered on the morning of September 11, 2001.

On that day, Charles kissed Katherine goodbye at 08:06 EDT as she left their apartment for work. Less than an hour later, a plane struck the 97th floor of the North Tower—the very floor where Katherine had recently begun a new job. As a trained pilot, Charles instantly recognized the aircraft’s sound and speed. He recounted, “I knew instantly when it flew over my building—our apartment building—that it was a twin engine jet at full throttle,” which compelled him to call the FBI. According to Charles, the agent who took his call later told him, “You were the first person to get us on to the fact that that was not an accident.”

Before the attacks, Katherine had told Charles she was working in “building one,” but the news initially referred to the Twin Towers as “north and south,” causing confusion about which was which. From their nearby home, Charles could see the smoke rising, though he was unable to reach her by phone. He realized only later that Katherine had died the moment the plane hit the building. Employers confirmed that no one above the 91st floor of the North Tower had survived—six floors below where she worked. Charles reflected on the suddenness of the tragedy: “She didn’t know it was going to happen and she never felt a thing.” He added somberly, “In fact… all of her people right there, they were vapourised instantaneously.” Despite his grief, Charles found some solace in knowing she was spared the terror faced by others who had to choose between burning or falling from the upper floors. “It was not a blessing that I lost her. It was a blessing that she never knew it happened, and I am grateful for that.”

Recently, over 200 firefighters from across the UK took part in a poignant commemoration of the 9/11 attacks by climbing 110 flights of stairs (about 2,226 steps) in full protective gear in Atlanta, Georgia. Each climber represented one of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives during the response to the attacks. Carl Williams, station manager with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, was among those participating. He described the experience as deeply moving, saying, “It was emotional at the end, a lot of people were finishing and crying.” Reflecting on the sacrifice involved, he added, “Nobody expects to go to work and not come home that day.

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