Husband on hijacked flight left powerful message for wife just before it crashed into Twin Towers on 9/11

No one wants to imagine the gut-wrenching pain of having the last conversation with their loved ones. But, for some people, this was the reality during the horrifying 9/11 attack on the US. One of these was Brian David Sweeney, a navy pilot who was in the plane that crashed into the Twin Towers during the unfortunate event, per CNN. Brian took the risk of calling his wife, Julie Sweeney Roth, to let her know this might be their last conversation and left her with a heartbreaking impactful message. 

“We assume he was calling from the back of the plane, because he said, 'They might come back here. I might have to go. We are going to try to do something about this,'” Julie recalled. The woman still remembers the devastating event that took place years ago but can only imagine what the situation was like for Brian. "Do I believe Brian went down swinging? Absolutely. Do I believe it was too late? Absolutely. Regardless of 'what if, what if, what if,' it won't change the outcome,” she remarked. Julie received a rather abrupt but heartfelt message from her husband and there was nothing more she could add to the conversation. 

Julie believed that the hijackers were coming over to Brian shortly before he hung up, which resulted in his brief message, using as few words as possible. Brian knew he didn’t have much time and ensured what he said would stick with his wife for a lifetime. He said, “I'm on an airplane that has been hijacked...if things don't go well, and they're not looking good, I want you to know that I absolutely love you. I want you to do good and have good times, same with my parents. I'll see you when you get here. I want you to know that I totally love you. Bye, babe, hope I will call you,” per Bustle. 

Brian is also reported to have called his mother but she wished to keep the message personal. A few minutes later, the plane that Brian was in crashed into the Twin Towers, reportedly taking the lives of 87 passengers and crew on board. For Julie, that message lives in her heart to this day. “I was lucky Brian called and spoke to me on that message. He told me what he believed and I grasped onto that with all I had, and I’ve embraced life — I am living it as I know he would want me to do,” she told PEOPLE. She shared the message her husband rendered a year after the attack and people hold it close to their hearts.

“The priority to him in those moments was to let his loved ones know that he loved us and that it was okay to move forward and do what we needed to do,” she added. The message which has been shared several times on social media, and more recently by @stigabell on X has people revisiting the importance of life and living. @mattyvinvent44 said, “I can't imagine ever being this brave.” @trader280 wrote, “Knowing what is in store for you and still thinking of the others that will be affected by it. A true hero!”