John Ferruggio
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Ferruggio was an American
in-flight director
who led the evacuation of Pan Am Flight 93, which was hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
. There were no fatalities among the plane's 153 passengers and crew due to Ferruggio's actions. The plane exploded on the runway in Cairo
shortly after everyone had evacuated the aircraft.
immigrant parents in the North End of Boston
. He was the youngest of the family's three children. The family moved to South Boston, where they enrolled him early in school in order to learn English. He graduated from South Boston High School.
Ferruggio forged his father's signature
in order to enlist in the United States Navy
during World War II
due to his age. He participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign
and the Battle of Iwo Jima
with a Marine unit. Ferruggio returned to South Boston following the end of World War II. He worked jobs in area shipyards and restaurants before joining Pan Am in 1954 as a flight attendant
. Ferruggio married his wife, Susan Wilson, who was raised in Newton, Massachusetts
, and worked as a ballet dancer in New York City
, in 1961.
of Pan Am Flight 93 on September 6, 1970, when the plane was hijacked by two men armed with grenades and handguns. The Pan Am flight, carrying 136 passengers and 17 crew members, including Ferruggio, was scheduled to fly from Amsterdam
to New York City
. However, the hijackers forced the pilots to divert the plane to Beirut
, where a third hijacker boarded with dynamite, before flying to Cairo
, Egypt
.
Ferruggio, who instructed passengers to remain calm, inquired to the hijackers what would happen when the Pan Am flight landed in Egypt. The hijackers told him that the plane would be detonated eight minutes after landing. The dynamite's fuse was lit during the plane's descent into Cairo International Airport
. In a 2006 interview
for Hijacked, a television documentary
which aired as part of the PBS television series, American Experience
, Ferruggio recalled telling the plane's flight attendants, "Now hear this and hear it good. When this plane comes to a complete stop...don’t wait for me, don’t wait for the captain
, and don’t wait for Jesus Christ. We are going to evacuate this plane, like right now."
Ferruggio led the evacuation of passengers from the plane in Cairo. All passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane in less than a minute and a half, which Ferruggio later remarked at a 1970 news conference was "the fastest [evacuation] I’ve ever seen it done and the fastest I’ve ever heard of." The last crew members - including Ferrugio - deplaned seconds before the plane exploded on the runway
.
, in the early 1970s. He retired from Pan Am during the 1980s and ran a real estate
business in South Boston.
John Ferruggio died of organ failure at Milton Hospital in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 19, 2010, at the age of 84. he was survived by his wife, Susan; two daughters, Lisa DeLuca and Donna Lee York; and six grandchildren. He was buried in Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree, Massachusetts
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in-flight director
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
who led the evacuation of Pan Am Flight 93, which was hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
. There were no fatalities among the plane's 153 passengers and crew due to Ferruggio's actions. The plane exploded on the runway in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
shortly after everyone had evacuated the aircraft.
Early life
Ferruggio was born to SicilianSicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
immigrant parents in the North End of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. He was the youngest of the family's three children. The family moved to South Boston, where they enrolled him early in school in order to learn English. He graduated from South Boston High School.
Ferruggio forged his father's signature
Signature
A signature is a handwritten depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature work describes the work as readily identifying...
in order to enlist in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
due to his age. He participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
and the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
with a Marine unit. Ferruggio returned to South Boston following the end of World War II. He worked jobs in area shipyards and restaurants before joining Pan Am in 1954 as a flight attendant
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
. Ferruggio married his wife, Susan Wilson, who was raised in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, and worked as a ballet dancer in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in 1961.
Pan Am Flight 93
Ferruggio was the flight directorFlight director
The term flight director can refer to any one of the following:* the flight controller of a space flight* the flight director of an aviation navigation system...
of Pan Am Flight 93 on September 6, 1970, when the plane was hijacked by two men armed with grenades and handguns. The Pan Am flight, carrying 136 passengers and 17 crew members, including Ferruggio, was scheduled to fly from Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. However, the hijackers forced the pilots to divert the plane to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, where a third hijacker boarded with dynamite, before flying to Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Ferruggio, who instructed passengers to remain calm, inquired to the hijackers what would happen when the Pan Am flight landed in Egypt. The hijackers told him that the plane would be detonated eight minutes after landing. The dynamite's fuse was lit during the plane's descent into Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
. In a 2006 interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
for Hijacked, a television documentary
Television documentary
Documentary television is a genre of television programming that broadcasts documentaries.* Documentary television series, a television series which is made up of documentary episodes....
which aired as part of the PBS television series, American Experience
American Experience
American Experience is a television program airing on the Public Broadcasting Service Public television stations in the United States. The program airs documentaries, many of which have won awards, about important or interesting events and people in American history...
, Ferruggio recalled telling the plane's flight attendants, "Now hear this and hear it good. When this plane comes to a complete stop...don’t wait for me, don’t wait for the captain
Pilot in command
The pilot in command of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the "captain" in a typical two- or three-pilot flight crew, or "pilot" if there is only one certified and qualified pilot at the controls of...
, and don’t wait for Jesus Christ. We are going to evacuate this plane, like right now."
Ferruggio led the evacuation of passengers from the plane in Cairo. All passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane in less than a minute and a half, which Ferruggio later remarked at a 1970 news conference was "the fastest [evacuation] I’ve ever seen it done and the fastest I’ve ever heard of." The last crew members - including Ferrugio - deplaned seconds before the plane exploded on the runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
.
Later life
Ferruggio moved with his family to Milton, MassachusettsMilton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
, in the early 1970s. He retired from Pan Am during the 1980s and ran a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business in South Boston.
John Ferruggio died of organ failure at Milton Hospital in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 19, 2010, at the age of 84. he was survived by his wife, Susan; two daughters, Lisa DeLuca and Donna Lee York; and six grandchildren. He was buried in Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree, Massachusetts
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
.