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Left: Pilot John Ogonowski of Dracut. (AP photo)
Right: Akamai founder Daniel Lewin. (courtesy Akamai)
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A look at some of the plane crash victims
Pilots of planes that hit World Trade Center were from New England
When American Airlines captain John Ogonowski left his Dracut farm for Logan Airport early Tuesday, he tooted his car horn to his family who lived nearby, as he did every day.
But his brother Jim said he knew immediately that something had gone terribly wrong with his brother when he heard the details of two airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center in New York.
"I had that sinking feeling on that moment," Jim Ogonowski said outside his brother's Dracut home. "I can't describe it."
The plane his brother captained Tuesday morning was American Airlines Flight 11, which apparently was hijacked after takeoff from Boston en route to Los Angeles, then crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. Ninety-two people were on board.
Another Boeing 767 that left Boston around the same time for Los Angeles, United Flight 175, is reported to have been the second airplane to crash into the towers. That plane had 56 passengers on board.
The co-pilot on Flight 11 was Tom McGuinness of Portsmouth, N.H., an official at his church said. Rick DeKoven, administrator at Bethany Church in Greenland, said McGuinness was married with a teen-age son and daughter.
Ogonowski, 52, a former Air Force pilot who had just celebrated his birthday, had a wife and three daughters -- Laura, 16; Caroline, 14; Mary Catherine, 11.
He was also a farmer who loved the land. Jim Ogonowski called his brother a "hero," and said his 150-acre property would be preserved as open space, as his brother would have wanted.
"John's legacy is where we stand today," he said. "Take a good look at that, the beauty of the land around here. That's John's legacy."
Kenneth Weyler, a friend of Ogonowski's for more than 20 years, called Ogonowski "a real hard working guy" who grew up on his family's farm and bought it to raise cattle and tobacco.
"If he said he'd do something, he'd do it. The kind of a guy you'd really want to trust to fly you anywhere. When I heard that plane flew into a building, I knew John wasn't at the controls."
A prayer service was being held Tuesday night at McGuinness' church in New Hampshire.
"I think clearly he was a devoted family man," said DeKoven. "He was active in his community and church. I just think he set an example for all of us, and we're going to sorely miss him."
Jeff Thornhill, a friend who met McGuinness in Bible study class, said he was a veteran American Airline pilot who loved to fly.
"His first love was his family, though. He was a man of faith and his family was a big part of his life."
Associated Press
Akamai co-founder Daniel Lewin dies in crash
Internet content distribution company Akamai Technologies Inc. said Tuesday that one of its co-founders was killed when the jet he had boarded in Boston crashed into New York's World Trade Center.
Daniel C. Lewin, who also served as the company's chief technology officer, was on board American Airlines Flight 11, enroute from Boston to Los Angeles.
No other Akamai staffers were on board, spokeswoman Caryn Brownell said from the company's headquarters in Cambridge.
Lewin, who was 31, was also a member of the company'd board of directors. The firm launched its commercial service in April 1999.
George H. Conrades, Chairman and Chief Executive of Akamai, said in a statement:
" Danny was a wonderful human being. He will be deeply missed by his many friends at Akamai. Our thoughts and prayers are with Danny's family, friends and colleagues during this time of national tragedy and personal loss.
" John was a very, very special person and I cannot even think what is going to happen to our program without him," said Joseph.
Lewin is survived by his wife and two sons.
Akamai Technology is based on the initial work of F. Thomas Leighton, a math professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Lewin, one of his graduate students.
Leighton and Lewin became immediate billionaires - at least on paper - when Akamai made its Wall Street debut.
Named for the Hawaiin word for clever or cool and pronounced AH-kuh-my, Akamai offers technology that speeds the delivery of vast amounts of Internet information.
Associated Press and Boston Globe
TJX Co. employees feared aboard
Framingham retailer TJX Cos., owner of the TJ Maxx and Marshalls discount stores, is believed to have had several people from its firm on Flight 11.
Spokeswoman Sherry Lang said she could not officially confirm the loss; but, she said, ``We think we lost some people on that flight. It's obviously impacted us greatly.''
She declined to name the people or describe their positions.
Boston Globe
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