09/11/2026
On September 11, 2001, when the FAA ordered every plane in American skies to land immediately, 40 aircraft within 100 miles of Memphis were directed here. In one of the darkest moments in our nation's history, this airport became a place of refuge, welcoming thousands of stranded passengers and crews who needed somewhere safe to land.
Twenty-five years later, we remember that day not just with grief, but with pride in how this community showed up. Frederick W. Smith International Airport has always been more than a place of departure, it's a place that stands ready when it matters most. We will never forget.