THE MOTHER OF ALL ACCIDENTS

In 2001, Seth MacFarlane was the 27-year-old executive producer and creator of the not-yet-hit animated show Family Guy. Having broken into the entertainment big leagues at such a young age, MacFarlane was invited back in September to address his alma mater, the Rhode Island School of Design. After giving a talk, he went out for what turned out to be a late night of drinking with some professors.

The next morning, September 11, Mac-Farlane raced to catch an 8.15am flight out of Boston back to Los Angeles. He was too late – the flight was actually at 7.45am; his travel agent had written down the wrong information. MacFarlane was rebooked on a later flight and went to doze in the passenger lounge. He was awakened by a commotion as passengers gasped at news coverage from New York showing the North Tower of the World Trade Center aflame. A short while later, the plane that struck the tower was identified as American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles – the flight MacFarlane