Watch CBS News

Gen. Dan Caine describes taking to the skies in fighter jet to defend U.S. on 9/11

Name: Gen. Dan Caine describes taking to the skies in fighter jet to defend U.S. on 9/11
Uploaded: 2026-09-11T20:43:00-0400
Duration: 9 min
Description: On Sept. 11, 2001, then-Maj. Dan Caine was chief of weapons and tactics for the 121st Fighter Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Caine, now the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells Norah O'Donnell about jumping into action when the second plane hit the World Trade Center.

On Sept. 11, 2001, then-Maj. Dan Caine was chief of weapons and tactics for the 121st Fighter Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Caine, now the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells Norah O'Donnell about jumping into action when the second plane hit the World Trade Center.