Photo: Courtesy of 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Many Americans know about the heroic acts of the pilots and passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, a plane that was hijacked by 9/11 terrorists and later crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Everyone on that aircraft perished, including the assailants, and the victims have been immortalized through many memorials, vigils, and media.
While his story has been told, many people are still unaware of First Officer LeRoy W. Homer Jr. -- the Black man co-piloting the plane on that fateful day. This will be a recounting of his life, how he fought back against hijackers, and how his legacy continues to shape lives today.
Early Life
Born on August 27, 1965, Homer grew up on Long Island and cultivated a love of planes early on. From assembling model airplane kits to watching planes take off from the local airport, he would embark on a path to make his dreams come true in high school. He started taking flight lessons at age 15 and even took his first solo flight when he was 16.
Homer obtained his private pilot license before attending the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987. After graduation, he served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and flew humanitarian missions in Somalia, the latter often being life-threatening experiences. Once the esteemed pilot wrapped up his active duty service in 1995 with the rank of Major, he joined United Airlines as a commercial pilot.
1995 was the same year he and his future wife, Melodie Thorpe, began talking to each other over the phone. Within two years, they got engaged, tied the knot in 1998, and welcomed a child in November 2000.
9/11 Attacks
Homer, 36, was one of seven crew members on Flight 93, which was carrying 37 passengers on the morning of September 11, 2001. Co-piloting with Captain Jason Dahl, the two pilots got word from United Airlines dispatch to be cautious of "cockpit intrusion." Forty-six minutes into the flight, Homer could be heard saying "Mayday" along with sounds of physical struggle, as recorded through various channels.
Four hijackers redirected the plane toward Washington D.C., where they planned to crash the aircraft into the U.S. Capitol. The terrorists struggled to fly the plane because they couldn't disable the autopilot function on the Boeing 757. As a result, they were forced to bring back Homer and Dahl, who were the first to fight back against the hijackers. The passengers also joined in on the counterattack, which ended in the plane careening into an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Their heroic sacrifice saved many lives in Washington D.C. that day.
Homer's Lasting Legacy
After the horrible events of 9/11, Melodie Homer created a foundation, named after her late husband, in 2003 to help underrepresented youth fulfill their dreams of flying. The LeRoy Homer Jr. Foundation supports high school and college students to earn their private pilot's licenses and pursue careers in aviation. The nonprofit also provides scholarships and outreach programs aimed at getting children and young people interested in the industry.
In an interview with WHQR's CoastLine, Melodie Homer told Host Rachel Lewis Hilburn that Leroy's legacy has been "hijacked" and "overlooked."
"Capt. Jason Dahl, Leroy, the crew -- they were just glossed over in all of the coverage," she said back in September 2022. "And it came down to there were four strong men on the flight. That was kind of the narrative that went on... You can make correction, after correction, after correction, it's very difficult to change that narrative."
Hilburn and Homer also discussed the importance of people knowing Homer was a Black, biracial man, who worked hard for his achievements in an industry dominated by white men. For decades, many Americans were unaware of the accomplished pilot's race.
"People have come to you and said, 'I didn't know there was a Black pilot on Flight 93,'" Hilburn pointed out.
"For Leroy to have done what he needed to do, get his private pilot certification prior to going to the Air Force Academy... You have to get congressional nomination to even be considered for the Air Force Academy; be successful in the Air Force Academy; have a successful military career, and then make that transition to commercial aviation," Homer explained. "That's challenging, but that's how badly he wanted it."
She continued, "He's a great inspiration for a lot of African American[s], other minorities who think that's not achievable. Even women."
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