Al Leiter Recalls 9/11 Chaos, Rejects Shifting Narratives Around 3,000 Deaths

Q: How did Leiter's stranded Mets teammates in Pittsburgh react when they realized he was navigating a chaotic New York City alone?

They were deeply worried and shaken once they understood Leiter was alone in New York trying to get back through a city under attack. The supplied reporting does not quote a specific teammate describing the exact moment they learned his situation in Pittsburgh. But the broader accounts of the Mets that day make the reaction clear: the clubhouse was overwhelmed by fear, confusion and concern for family and loved ones. Bobby Valentine later said players were coming into his office in tears wanting to be with their families, and teammates from that period described the group as a “band of brothers” bound by shared anger, grief and anxiety. In that context, the likely reaction to Leiter’s situation was not frustration about baseball logistics but alarm for his safety. He was moving by taxi past the burning towers while airspace was closed and reports of the Pentagon strike were spreading. By the time he reached Mets management, it was clear the game would not be played and baseball had become irrelevant next to the unfolding disaster. So while there is no direct quote here from stranded teammates in Pittsburgh saying exactly what they told Leiter, the record shows they would have viewed him as a teammate caught alone in extraordinary danger, prompting concern, disbelief and a focus on getting everyone safely through the day.

Q: Now 25 years later, what specific modern narratives about 9/11 prompted Al Leiter's strong warning against rewriting history?

Al Leiter did not cite one single slogan or movement by name in the interview, but the context makes clear he was pushing back against today’s revival of 9/11 revisionism online, especially conspiracy narratives that deny or distort the attacks. Those modern narratives include claims that 9/11 was an “inside job,” that the Twin Towers or 7 World Trade Center were brought down by controlled demolition, that the Pentagon was hit by a missile rather than Flight 77, or that U.S. officials knowingly allowed the attacks to happen. A newer strain circulating online also falsely blames Israel or Jews for orchestrating the attacks, recycling long-discredited and often antisemitic claims. The searched material shows these theories remain widespread on YouTube, TikTok, X and podcasts, where younger audiences often encounter raw 9/11 footage mixed with misinformation. Experts cited in the background note that such theories have moved from the fringe toward the mainstream through social media, influencers and AI-generated “proof.” That is the backdrop for Leiter’s warning. His point was that 9/11 should be remembered for what it was: an al-Qaeda terrorist attack that killed nearly 3,000 people, including first responders. His “Never Forget” message was aimed at resisting both outright conspiracy theories and broader efforts to soften, dilute or reframe the attacks over time.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 11

Al Leiter said he was stranded in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, after secretly flying home before a Mets game to walk his daughter into first grade.
LaGuardia shut down as the attacks unfolded, and Leiter said he initially still thought he could reach Pittsburgh, even trying to hire a cab to Philadelphia before hearing the Pentagon had been hit.
Steve Phillips, then the Mets' general manager, finally told him not to worry about baseball as New York closed down and smoke rose from the burning towers.
Speaking 25 years later on Craig Carton's show, Leiter said his memory of 9/11 has not changed and pushed back on what he called efforts to recast a terrorist attack that killed about 3,000 people.