John Ogonowski: Pilot, Farmer, September 11 Victim
John Alexander Ogonowski (February 24, 1951 – September 11, 2001) was a Polish-American aircraft pilot and agricultural activist. He was the captain of American Airlines Flight 11 when it was hijacked on September 11, 2001, and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Early Life and Education
Ogonowski was born February 24, 1951, in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he was raised. He attended St. Stanislaus School and Keith Academy in Lowell before enrolling at Lowell Technological Institute (now the University of Massachusetts Lowell). He was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering.
Career and Achievements
Ogonowski served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina. He ferried equipment to Asia and sometimes transported the bodies of fallen American soldiers in C-141 transport aircraft. He resigned his commission under honorable conditions and separated from the military with the rank of captain.
He became a commercial pilot in 1978 and flew for American Airlines for 23 years, serving as a member of the Allied Pilot Association. He had initially joined the airline as a flight engineer, a position he had also held in the Air Force. During his commercial career, he met Margaret, a flight attendant known as “Peggy,” whom he married. They had three daughters: Laura, Caroline, and Mary Catherine.
Beyond aviation, Ogonowski was an avid farmer who secured 150 acres of farmland on Marsh Hill Road in Dracut through the federal Agriculture Preservation Restriction program. He raised hay, corn, pumpkins, blueberries, and peaches. He became a leading advocate for farming in Massachusetts and was particularly active in aiding immigrant farmers from Cambodia as part of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.
Notable Events and Milestones
On September 11, 2001, Ogonowski was at the controls as captain of American Airlines Flight 11 when al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked the aircraft. He is believed to have been killed by the hijackers prior to the crash. Ringleader Mohamed Atta subsequently took his seat and flew the Boeing 767 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, killing everyone on board. Ogonowski’s remains have never been recovered or identified.
Awards and Honors
In 2002, Ogonowski and Flight 11 flight attendants Betty Ong and Madeline Amy Sweeney were the inaugural recipients of the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery, an honor instituted by the Government of Massachusetts to recognize extraordinary courage in defending or saving the lives of others. The University of Massachusetts Lowell presented him with a posthumous honorary doctorate at its 2003 commencement ceremony. The USAID Farmer to Farmer program was renamed the “John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter FTF Program” as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. A remote controlled model aircraft flying field in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was dedicated to his memory. At the National 9/11 Memorial, he is memorialized at the North Pool on Panel N-74.
Additional Resources
Ogonowski’s life and legacy are documented in various biographical archives and historical records related to the September 11 attacks. His contributions to aviation and agricultural advocacy in Massachusetts continue to be recognized through the programs and memorials bearing his name. Further details about his service and achievements are available through Wikipedia and other historical sources.
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