It is not known exactly where on board she was calling from. Information relayed included the seat numbers and descriptions of four of the hijackers, although the FBI later named five hijackers on board the flight. It is said that the information given enabled investigators to link the day's hijackings to Al-Qaeda.
Her report was delivered in a calm, deliberate manner, an airline official said, to the very end, when she slowly stated, "I see water and buildings. Oh my God! Oh my God!"
She was 35 when she died. She had been a flight attendant for 12 years. She left behind a family of a husband and two children, aged 4 and 5. They lived in Acton, Massachusetts. She normally only worked weekends, but had chosen to do an extra shift that day.
On Feb 11, 2002, she was commemorated in a series of new annual bravery awards initiated by the Massachusetts government. The annual Madeline Amy Sweeney Award will be awarded every September 11 to at least one Massachusetts resident who displayed extraordinary courage in defending or saving the lives of others.
The first recipients were Ms. Sweeney and fellow flight attendant Betty Ong, who had also relayed information about the hijacking to personnel on the ground. Pilot John Ogonowski also received a posthumous award for turning a radio switch on and thus allowing ground control to listen to remarks being made by the hijackers. All three had been Massachusetts citizens.
Relatives of all three accepted the awards on their behalf.