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I watched as a hijacked plane flew over my home - moments later my wife was killed on 9/11

September 11, 2026

Charles Wolf lost his Welsh wife Katherine from Swansea when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, where she had been working for less than two weeks. The couple had met in New York in 1988 through theater work and fallen in love almost immediately, building what Charles described as a wonderful relationship. After witnessing the plane fly over his apartment and crash into the tower where Katherine worked on the 97th floor, Charles was unable to reach her and learned three days later that she had died instantly.

Who is affected

  • Katherine Wolf (from Swansea, Wales), who was killed instantly in the attack
  • Charles Wolf, Katherine's husband and widower
  • 2,977 people killed in the al-Qaeda attacks (excluding the 19 hijackers)
  • Thousands of people injured or who developed illnesses connected to the attacks, including firefighters who worked in toxic debris
  • Families and dependants of victims of the 9/11 attacks who received compensation through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

What action is being taken

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article
  • (Note: The article describes Charles Wolf's past campaign work and reflection on events from 25 years ago, but does not describe any ongoing actions currently taking place.)

Why it matters

  • The story illustrates the profound personal toll of the 9/11 terrorist attacks through the lens of one family's tragedy, connecting the global impact of the attacks to Wales through Katherine's Swansea origins. Charles Wolf's successful advocacy work helped ensure that the families and dependents of nearly 3,000 victims received fair compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, demonstrating how individual action can create systemic change during national tragedy. The 25th anniversary provides an opportunity to remember not just the scale of the attacks but the individual lives lost and the ongoing impact on survivors and families.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC