Logan Airport 9/11 Fire Drill Sharply Criticized
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Kalim Saliba/Getty Images(BOSTON) — Timing is everything and the timing of Boston’s Logan International Airport couldn’t have been worse.
In a move that Gov. Deval Patrick called “just dumb,” the airport decided to hold a fire drill Wednesday, the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The two hijacked planes that were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 took off from Logan.
Wednesday’s fire drill involved the airport generating flames in a tanker which produced black smoke that drifted over the airfield.
Airline travelers, who are already more vigilant since the 9/11 attacks, are particularly sensitive to flying on the somber anniversary. Thus, Boston Logan Airport’s Facebook page was inundated with postings from those angry and upset about the timing of the fire drill.
The apology was long but probably too late to undo the damage.
It said, “Massport apologizes for conducting the fire training exercise and understands that it may have offended many of those touched by the events of Sept. 11. Safety and security is our top priority and constant vigilance and readiness is critical, but the exercise should not have taken place on the anniversary of 9/11. The airport community recognizes the day with moments of silence, a service in the chapel, and a wreath at the 9/11 memorial.”
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