Former air traffic controller Patricia Peets can vividly recall how news of the twin towers attack was broken during a shift at LF Wade International Airport.

She was working on what had been a normal day when it suddenly felt like the whole world was about to come crashing down.

Ms Peets, now retired after 30 years of service and living in her native Barbados, said: “Wow. I cannot believe it is, oh my, 25 years now.

“I was working with one of the other traffic controllers when we got the news and it was from a fire officer who had been watching television during his break with other workers.

“They had seen it. But we didn't know anything about it until the fire officer came over and told us.

“So we immediately called the New York air route control centre because of its proximity to our air space.

“It had just happened really so details were very tight but it was apparent it was something on a much larger scale.

“We had a piece of equipment which basically brings up all the flight information with flight data input and output.

“So we knew about every flight into Bermuda and it started whirring with flights popping out all over, with the New York flights and added to that was the Europe flights.

“Normally we would deal with an average 15 flights a day but this time we were getting 15 flights in an hour after they were diverted to Bermuda.

“We also dealt with about 20 private flights in and out on a normal day.

“I still remember the photo of all the planes parked in our area. It's an extended area that we use out towards the sea and aircraft were put there.

“After that it was about keeping calm and doing our things in an orderly and expediential way.

“If anything, it was more nervy for the other traffic controller because his wife was in Washington, while I had two sisters working in Manhattan, which was concerning for me as well as him with us wondering where they were.”

She added: “Obviously we didn’t know the full extent of what the situation was in the US, so the best thing for them was to send [flights] to Bermuda and the European flights were then sent on.

“I don't know exactly how many but we had to ensure everything was done in a safe manner.

“There was no military aircraft around Bermuda, certainly not that we knew of and nothing came here as far as we are aware of.

“All we knew was that it was a very stressful situation for New York centre and we were trying to help them out as best we could.”

Ms Peets said: “It was a very sad situation but we were able to step up to the plate.

“For me it was a case of while not knowing what was going on, we had to be strong and professional.

“We had trained for situations like this but obviously it is very different when it actually happens for real.

“It’s just not the same. We were trained to handle emergencies and deal with situations or events such as a hijacking and bomb scares for which we had set procedures.

“However, we were always in control [on 9/11] because if you don't then you completely lose control of the situation. So you have to go into that mode and we have those procedures.

“It means you have that foundation and the procedures of who to call and report to, such as the fire department.”

Ms Peets recalls that the next day she went to work and found soldiers had ringed the airport for security.

She said: “The army were there and we had some security around the airport. The military were there for a couple of days and then the flights resumed.

“I am not sure where the order came to lift the restrictions but it must have come after discussions with our premier and aviation officials in the US to make that decision that it was safe to fly again.

“I heard from my sisters and my fellow controller heard from his wife but there were no phone signals for a long time and it was a worrying time. He was upset at the time trying to get in contact with her.

“Looking back on it all now it was shocking. It really was shocking, painful and a very stressful situation. And, of course, it was very sad.

“Sometimes it is like a blur inside my head and only when people ask about it is when I realise, like when we had tours of the airport and traffic control. I wanted to block it out but of course it is always with you.

“People always remember where they were on that date.”