BETTY ONG - 9/11 HERO

	Betty Ong

The 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean declared: "Betty Ong is a true American hero." He stated that "we have to remind ourselves of exactly what it was like that day. . . wasn't just a tragedy but a triumph ... of heroes."

San Francisco's Mayor Willie Brown proclaimed Sept. 21 "Betty Ong Day," saying, "When 180,000 San Franciscans say their prayers, they can say the angel, Betty Ong, by name."

This was expressed because this 5' 9" native of San Francisco's Chinatown (a 14-year veteran of American Airlines and known to her friends as "Bee") was a victim of the terrorists and the first hero of that fateful day of September 11, 2001 where terrorist attacks killed 3,000 people in New York and Washington, DC. in the greatest American catastrophe of modern times.

The Ong Family (elder brother Harry, older sisters Cathie and Gloria and her parents -Harry Sr. and Yee-gum Oy) can be genuinely proud that their beloved daughter, and sister, was that rare person who embodied both exceptional courage and uncommon kindness. She literally made the world a better place simply by being in it. The many people who are familiar with Todd Beamer's courage ("Let's roll") will hopefully remember Betty Ong's.

Actions On That Fateful Day
It was 7:59 on a radiant September morning when American Airlines Flight 11 lifted off from Boston's Logan Airport, bound for LA. On board were 81 passengers, two pilots and a cabin crew of nine. Sitting in Business Class were Mohammed Atta and four fellow terrorists. Less than an hour after take-off, Atta deliberately flew the Boeing 767 into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

Within minutes of the hijacking, and despite the murderous mayhem on board, Ong bravely grabbed a crew phone to call colleagues on the ground.

"My name is Betty Ong," she said after reaching the reservations office in North Carolina, speaking quickly but in a tone that was remarkably calm and lucid. "I'm on Flight 11." She explained that she had been forced to the back of the jet, which was hijacked shortly after leaving Boston on a flight to Los Angeles.

"The cockpit is not answering the phone," she said from a jump seat at the back of the Boeing 767, calling to the ground from one of the crew phones that she would normally use to communicate with other crew members on the plane.

"There is somebody stabbed in business class. They can't breathe in business class. They've got Mace or something. I think we're getting hijacked," Ong said from her seat in the back of American Airlines Flight 11 scheduled to arrive in L.A. from Boston. "The cockpit's not answering their phone, and there's somebody stabbed in business class. ... I think there's Mace."

"Our Number 1 (attendant) got stabbed, our purser got stabbed; we don't know who stabbed who," Ong said. "We can't get up to business class because we can't breathe."

Ong's call came in to the airline's reservations office in Cary, N.C., about 8:20 a.m. that day. Nydia Gonzalez kept Ong on the phone for 23 minutes. With a "calm, professional and poised demeanor," Gonzalez said, Ong provided critical details, including the seat numbers of the five hijackers. That allowed authorities to quickly identify them.

Ong also revealed the terrorists' strategy of using Mace or pepper spray to keep most passengers in the back of the jet andthe stabbing of her co-workers and that the cockpit door was locked, with at least some of the hijackers inside. She identified the seats the terrorists had occupied, enabling the FBI to learn the hijackers' passport details.

"Our first-class galley attendant and our purser are stabbed," she said. "We can't get into the cockpit. The door won't open."

"Can anybody get to the cockpit?" she can be heard asking someone nearby on the plane. "We can't even get to the cockpit. Nobody can call the cockpit. We can't even get inside."

"Is there a doctor on board?"

There was silence on the tape as Ms. Gonzalez listened to Ms. Ong's reply. "They don't have any doctors on board," Ms. Gonzalez told the operations center. "The aircraft is erratic again. She did say that the first-class passengers have been moved back to coach."

There were a few moments of silence. "Is anybody there?" Ms. Ong asked.

"Yes, we're here . . you're doing a great job, just stay calm," Ms. Gonzalez (an American Airlines supervisor) told Ms. Ong.

"I'm staying on the line as well," said Ms. Ong.

Fifteen minutes after Ong first alerted the world to what was happening, the big Boeing suddenly lurched, tilting wildly. She said the pilots were probably no longer flying the airplane. The 767 approached Manhattan, flying ever lower.

Still on the line, Ong said in a composed voice: "Pray for us. Pray for us." Seconds later the line went dead.

The Boeing 767 with suspected 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta and four others rammed into the World Trade Center's north tower at 8:46 A.M.

JAY SEAN

	Jay Sean

Jay Sean, (whose real name is Kamaljit - "but everyone calls me Nicky") the 22 years old British-born native from Hounslow & 1st Asian Prince of Pop/r&b singer & rapper, has become an idol for every Asian guy or girl who wants to do something in music.

Among Asians, his star status is indisputable: in May 2004, 160 million viewers watched him at the MTV India Awards. At the Mela, he was engulfed by glossy-tressed young women with camera phones, desperate to capture his sharp-featured good looks.

This artist left medical school in summer 2003 to pursue a music career. He developed a intense passion for hip hop and more inspired by the lyrical skills of Notorious BIG, Fu-Shnickens, Treach from Naughty by Nature, Grand Puba and Mobb Deep. This artist is putting Punjabi into the charts.

At 15, Jay became one half of hip-hop duo `Compulsive Disorder', that developed his rap skills and writing style that defined his distinctive "British Wit" that paints a picture of his life experiences.

Growing up, Jay listened to a diverse range of artists from traditional Bollywood artists to R&B singers like Donnell Jones, Eric Benet, Boyz II Men and Musiq Soulchild.

In Christmas 2002, he was signed to Rishi Rich's (i.e. Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez) 2Point9 record label. Rishi decided to include Jay in his debut Rishi Rich Project record – a project aimed to showcase up-and coming talent.

The trio which form the Rishi Rich Project: Producer Rishi Rich, singer/songwriter Juggy D and singer/songwriter Jay Sean are all gearing up to release singles and albums in the upcoming months and continue their offensive on the British Asian music scene.

Jay was signed to Relentless Records/Virgin Records in July 2003, the label responsible for hits such as Artful Dodger/Craig David – Rewind, Daniel Beddingfield – You gotta get thru this and Master of Ceremonies – Do you really like this. The critically acclaimed debut single "Dance with you (nachna tere naal)" featuring Juggy D reached number 12 in the UK charts in September 2003 and paved the way for Jay's solo project released in early 2004.

A Sikh, Sean may not yet be fully practicing ("When I'm 40, I'd like to have the beard and turban") but still prays every night and goes to temple whenever he can. The biggest life change for him so far, is trying to deal with the attention he attracts.

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