President George W. Bush deboards Air Force One from the lower ramp Sept. 11, 2001, at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA. Initially scheduled to return to Washington, DC, the plane diverted to Barksdale AFB as reports of attacks in the DC area became known. Following President Bush is United States Secret Service agent Eddie Marinzel and saluting airman is Technical Sergeant Richard Balfour, Air Force One security. According to Col. Mark Tillman, Air Force Once pilot: "We let the president out through the bottom stairs, because you want that low vantage point in case there’s a sniper."
Photo by Khue Bui