Remembering 9/11: Mike Duckett

Mike Duckett was working at Baltimore Washington International airport as a manager for US Airways on Sept. 11.

He was preparing for a morning meeting when he glanced at the news and saw the first plane, and then the second plane, hit the World Trade Center.

Upon learning that all aircraft were being grounded, Duckett quickly sprang into action supporting the coordination efforts at the airport as the planes began to land. Duckett describes that morning as “total chaos.”

Before 9/11, Duckett intended to work in the airline industry until he retired. By November 2002, Duckett had faced pay cuts that many in the airline industry encountered and decided to make a career switch to the newly created Transportation Security Administration.

Duckett said that the TSA “was a good opportunity for people with airline experience.”

He remains there today as a manager, where he supports efforts “to protect the public against what happened on 9/11.”

This photo was created as part of a larger project in coordination with Action America to document how the country has been affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

See how you can become an Actionist and turn the events of 9/11 into positive action at www.ActionAmerica.com and look for more local coverage of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Patch.

How has 9/11 affected you in the last 10 years? Please share your post-9/11 remembrances with us in the comments section below.