Mark Wahlberg's 9/11 tribute after twist of fate saved him from boarding flight

12 September 2023 , 05:36

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Mark Wahlberg posted a heartfelt 9/11 post as the world marks the 22nd anniversary (Image: Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

Thousands were tragically killed in the terror attacks on New York's World Trade Centre, but Ted star Mark Wahlberg was one famous celebrity who was saved by a twist of fate. After narrowly avoiding the tragedy himself, Mark shared an emotional post on social media remembering those who lost their lives.

On September 11, 2001 two hijacked planes were flown into the Twin Towers, claiming the lives of 2,977 innocent people. People from around the world watched in horror as the events unfolded live on television. In the aftermath of the tragedy, many famous faces shared their experiences and survival stories including Mark, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

In an Instagram post, the 52-year-old star paid tribute to those who lost their lives alongside an image of three firefighters hoisting up an American flag in front of the wreckage. Mark wrote: "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Prayers for the 2,996 souls lost that terrible day. #september11 #neverforget."

The star narrowly escaped the 9/11 tragedy in 2001 with a last minute decision to go to Canada (ITV)

The Uncharted star's post comes after he previously shared the harrowing experience of almost being a victim in the September 11th attacks. On the day of the tragedy, Mark was scheduled to fly on American Airlines Flight 11 from his hometown in Boston to Los Angeles. But instead of embarking on his scheduled flight, he and his friends made the last-minute decision to fly on a chartered a plane to a film festival in Toronto, Canada - a decision that saved all of their lives.

Mark was later attacked for claiming that he would've been able to overpower the terrorists if he had been on the flight. In an interview with Men's Journal, he said: "If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn't have went down like it did," he continued: "There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, 'OK, we're going to land somewhere safely, don't worry'."

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After the controversial statement and backlash from fans, Mark later apologized for the "insensitive" statement. He later said: "To speculate about such a situation is ridiculous to begin with, and to suggest I would have done anything differently than the passengers on that plane was irresponsible. I deeply apologize to the families of the victims that my answer came off as insensitive, it was certainly not my intention."

Caroline Gaspich