Celebrities Who Nearly Died In The 9/11 Terror Attacks

The 9/11 terror attacks remain etched in the history of the US as one of the most fatal terrorist attacks in the country, taking at least 3,000 lives. Among the death count could have been some celebrities who missed the tragic occurrence by sheer luck, missed schedules, and other varying reasons.

As the 23rd anniversary of the infamous event is being observed, it is a time to look back on the losses that ensued after 19 al-Qaida hijackers took over four jetliners. They crashed two of the aircraft into New York’s World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the last into a field in western Pennsylvania.

As the memories come alive again, here are celebrities who had a close shave on that day:

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Michael Jackson

The late King of Pop was scheduled to have a meeting atop the World Trade Center but overslept after staying up late to chat with family. His older brother Jermaine Jackson recounted the event in his memoir, You Are Not Alone Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes, where he recalled how their mother panicked until they phoned his hotel to confirm his well-being.

Mark Wahlberg

Thanks to Mark Wahlberg’s friends, who made a last-minute decision to attend a Toronto Film Festival rather than fly to Los Angeles, the actor escaped the tragic disaster. Mark was scheduled to fly on American Airlines Flight 11, which was one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center.

Seth MacFarlane

The Family Guy creator was saved by a hangover that made him late to the airport as he rushed to board the same plane as Mark. He missed the flight by ten minutes, and while waiting for the next one he had booked, Seth saw the unfortunate news on the airport lounge television and got offered a shot by the bartender.