A Final Voicemail of Love: The Story of Lauren Grandcolas, the Pregnant Passenger Who Left a Last Message on Flight 93

In the early morning hours of September 11, 2001, as the world moved through a seemingly ordinary day, 38-year-old Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas boarded a plane that would soon become part of one of the most harrowing and heroic events in American history. At just three months pregnant, Lauren had every reason to look forward to the future—a future she would tragically never see.

Lauren lived in San Rafael, California, and worked in advertising sales for Good Housekeeping magazine. She had flown to New Jersey to attend her grandmother’s funeral, planning to return home later that day. But when she arrived at Newark International Airport ahead of schedule, she decided to change her ticket and board an earlier flight—United Airlines Flight 93.

Before boarding, she called her husband, Jack Grandcolas, to let him know about the change. It was still early morning on the West Coast, and Jack, asleep in their California home, missed the call. He would not hear his wife’s voice until her next message—one that would arrive under unimaginable circumstances.

Lauren took her seat in row 11. Shortly after takeoff, four hijackers seized control of the aircraft as part of the coordinated terrorist attacks unfolding that morning. As fear spread through the cabin, Lauren did something extraordinary: she stayed calm.

Using the airplane’s seat-back phone, she called home again. This time, her voice reached the answering machine.

In a message that would become one of the most heartbreaking recordings from that day, she said softly, lovingly, and with astonishing composure:

“We’re having a little problem on the plane. I’m totally fine. I love you more than anything—just know that.”

Her words reflected no panic, only love—likely an attempt to comfort the man she knew would one day hear them. She did not mention the hijackers. She did not speak of fear. Her final recorded moments were devoted entirely to the person she cared for most.

Between 9:28 a.m. and the moment Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m., passengers and crew made 37 calls, trying to reach loved ones, alert authorities, and understand the unfolding attacks. Most of these calls were made from the airplane’s built-in phones; only two were successfully made from cell phones, as the technology of the time struggled at altitude.

Flight 93 would not hit its intended target. After learning of the other attacks that had struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the passengers and crew united in a desperate, courageous attempt to retake control of the aircraft. Their resistance forced the hijackers to crash the plane into an empty field instead of a populated landmark—an act of collective bravery that saved countless lives on the ground.

Among those heroes was Lauren, whose life, and the life of her unborn child, were cut tragically short. Her voicemail remains a haunting reminder of the humanity and love that endured even in the final minutes aboard Flight 93.

Today, we honor Lauren Grandcolas, her child, and every passenger and crew member who acted with extraordinary courage on that day. Their sacrifice is woven into the memory of September 11—a reminder of resilience, unity, and the profound power of love in the face of terror.

We will always remember them.