On a sunny morning, September 11, 2001, Mark Bingham boarded United Airlines Flight 93, expecting a routine trip to San Francisco for a friend’s wedding. Little did he know this flight would thrust him into a battle for life itself.
As the hijacking unfolded, Bingham, a towering figure known for his strength both in character and physique, took a stand against terror.
Seated in first class, he was among the brave few who realized that their lives were in grave danger. In a heartwarming call, he reached out to his mother, Alice Hoagland, during his last moment.
‘Hi, Mom. This is Mark Bingham. I love you.’
Mark’s final poignant message was a farewell call wrapped in love and bravery.
Mark Bingham dialed the same number and spoke first with a family friend, with his aunt and finally with his mother, Alice Hoagland.
‘This is Mark. I just want to tell you I’m on a plane and it’s being hijacked.’
then got a piece of paper and asked Bingham what flight he was on.
‘United Flight 93’ . . . . Bingham replied.
When got on the phone said . . . .
‘This is Mark Bingham.’ (he stated both his first and last names) followed by, ‘I want to let you know I love you. I love you all . . . . I’m on a flight from Newark to San Francisco and there are three guys who have taken over the plane, and they say they have a bomb. I’m calling you from the air phone.’
asked,
‘Who are they, Mark?’
was distracted and did not answer. was not sure if heard what she said. The conversation was interrupted for approximately five seconds.
Bingham then stated to his mother,
‘You’ve got to believe me. It’s true.’
responded,
‘I do believe you, Mark. Who are they?’
followed by another approximate five-second pause, Hoagland heard some activity and voices in the background. No screams but a lot of murmuring.
got the impression that was distracted because someone was speaking to him. Then the phone went dead..
With chilling clarity, Mark Bingham, alongside Todd Beamer, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick, recognized the hijackers’ deadly intent. Their plan was bold and rooted in courage—to storm the cockpit and wrest control from their captors.
The phrase ‘Let’s roll’ echoed in the cabin, a call to action that would forever etch their heroism in history.
Their heroic efforts led the plane to crash into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, averting a greater catastrophe. The hijacker’s intention was for the plane to hurtle into a Washington, DC landmark, either the White House or the US Capitol Building.
This remarkable act not only saved countless lives on the ground but also challenged stereotypes about the strength and heroism of gay men.
Bingham was a 6’4″ well-built rugby player, and “He hated to lose at anything,” according to his partner Paul Holm.
All 44 people on board the flight lost their lives. However, the plan of Mark Bingham, alongside Todd Beamer, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick, likely saved hundreds more. Bingham is remembered as one of the many heroes of 9/11.
The legacy of Mark Bingham lives on, not just in the hearts of those who knew him but through the Bingham Cup, a testament to inclusivity and courage in the sport he loved.
Mark Bingham’s story is an indelible example of ordinary individuals rising to extraordinary challenges. His courage is remembered not just as a desperate act of survival, but as a beacon of hope and unity. In a final act of love and bravery, his words, ‘I love you, ‘ continue to resonate. Could you imagine finding the strength to fight back under such circumstances?