Philip Saunders, then working for British Airways, was attending a work conference when the World Trade Center was struck by passenger jets on 11 September 2001.
Saunders was abruptly called out of the conference and witnessed live news footage of one of the Twin Towers on fire.
Following the attacks, airlines implemented immediate safety measures, including the removal of all metal knives, forks, and glassware from aircraft.
Initially, airlines halted all in-flight catering services as a precautionary step after the events of 9/11.