The following is a list of last words uttered by notable individuals during the 21st century (2001–present). A typical entry will report information in the following order:
Last word(s), name and short description, date of death, circumstances around their death (if applicable), and a reference.
2001–2009 "Okay, just wondering." —Dale Earnhardt Sr., American race car driver (18 February 2001), after asking teammate Andy Pilgrim if he had any advice for him prior to his fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500
"It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." —Timothy McVeigh, American domestic terrorist (11 June 2001). Convicted of the Oklahoma City bombing, McVeigh chose "Invictus" (Latin for "unconquered"), an 1875 poem by the British poet William Ernest Henley, as his final statement prior to his execution by lethal injection.
September 11 attacks "Turning right, American 11." —Captain John Ogonowski, pilot of American Airlines Flight 11 (11 September 2001), after talking from Boston Center while it was continuing to cruise before hijackers storming the cockpit.
"Nobody move, please. We are going back to the airport. Don't try to make any stupid moves." —Mohamed Atta, Egyptian terrorist and ringleader of the September 11 attacks (11 September 2001), last recorded words before he crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, killing himself and 91 others aboard the flight and around 1,600 others in the North Tower.
"Pray for us. Pray for us." —Betty Ong, American flight attendant aboard American Airlines Flight 11 (11 September 2001), on a phone call with American Airlines officials.
"I see water. I see buildings. I see buildings! We are flying low. We are flying very, very low. We are flying way too low. Oh, my God we are flying way too low. Oh, my God!" —Madeline Amy Sweeney, American flight attendant aboard American Airlines Flight 11 (11 September 2001), over the phone to manager Michael Woodward.
"It's getting bad, Dad. A stewardess was stabbed. They seem to have knives and Mace. They said they have a bomb. It's getting very bad on the plane. Passengers are throwing up and getting sick. The plane is making jerky movements. I don't think the pilot is flying the plane. I think we are going down. I think they intend to go to Chicago or someplace and fly into a building. Don't worry, Dad. If it happens, it'll be very fast... Oh, my God... oh, my God, oh, my God." —Peter Hanson, American passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 175 (11 September 2001), over the phone to his father, Lee.
"What do I tell the pilot to do?" —Barbara Olson, American lawyer and conservative television commentator who was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 (11 September 2001), over the phone to her husband, Solicitor General Theodore Olson.
"Are you guys ready? Let's roll." —Todd Beamer, American passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 (11 September 2001), signaling the start of the revolt against the flight's hijackers, resulting in the plane crashing in the ensuing struggle for the controls, killing all 44 aboard
"Don't worry, we're going to do something." —Tom Burnett, American passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 (11 September 2001), over a last phone call to his wife, Deena.
"We're going to rush the hijackers." —Jeremy Glick, American passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 (11 September 2001), over the phone to his wife, Lyzbeth, prior to the revolt.
"Honey, are you there? Jack, pick up sweetie. Okay, well I just wanted to tell you I love you. We’re having a little problem on the plane. I’m totally fine, I just love you more than anything, just know that. And you know, I’m, you know, I’m comfortable and I’m okay... for now. Just a little problem. So I just love you, please tell my family I love them too. Bye, honey." —Lauren Grandcolas, American passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 (11 September 2001), last message sent to her husband Jack.
"It's Lynn. Um. I only have a minute. I'm on United 93, and it's been hijacked, uh, by terrorists, who say they have a bomb. Apparently, they, uh, flown a couple of planes into the World Trade Center already, and it looks like they're going to take this one down as well. Mostly, I just wanted to say I love you . . . and . . . I'm going to miss you . . . and . . . and please give my love to Mom and Dad, and (sigh) mostly, I just love you and I just wanted to tell you that. I don't know if I'm going to get the chance to tell you that again or not. (sigh) Um. . . (unintelligible) All my stuff is in the safe. The uh, the safe is in my closet in my bedroom. The combination is you push C for clear and then 0-9-1-3 and then, uh, and then it should . . . and maybe pound, and then it should unlock. (sigh) I love you, and I hope that I can talk to you soon. Bye." —Linda Gronlund, American passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 (11 September 2001), last message sent to sister, Elsa Strong.
"Hi baby, I'm... baby, you have to listen to me carefully. I'm on a plane that's been hijacked. I'm on a plane; I'm calling from the plane. Wanna tell you I love you. Please tell my children that I love them very much. And, I'm so sorry, babe. Um, I don't know what to say, there's three guys they've hijacked the plane. I'm trying to be calm . . . We're turned around and I've heard that there's planes that have been, been flown into the World Trade Center. I hope to be able to see your face again, baby! I love you. Goodbye." —CeeCee Lyles, Flight attendant aboard United Airlines Flight 93 (11 September 2001), last message sent to her husband.
"Hey! Hey! Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me! Give it to me!" —Ziad Jarrah, Lebanese terrorist of the September 11 attacks (11 September 2001), last words recorded on the cockpit voice recorder during the passenger revolt before he crashed United Airlines Flight 93 into Shanksville, killing himself and 43 others aboard the flight.
"Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest." —Saeed al-Ghamdi, Saudi terrorist of the September 11 attacks (11 September 2001), reciting the takbir, recorded on the cockpit voice recorder during the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, killing all aboard the flight.
"We're looking in... We're overlooking the Financial Center. Three of us... Two broken windows... Oh, God! Oh—!" —Kevin Cosgrove, American business executive employed at the South Tower of the World Trade Center (11 September 2001), over the phone to a 911 dispatcher, who he called from the 105th floor. His last words were uttered when the South Tower collapsed.
"Fie here Love yous" —Gregory Reda, American manager employed by Marsh McLennan at the North Tower of the World Trade Center (11 September 2001), texting his coworker Michael Cantatore from the 95th floor, one of the impact floors.
"I'm safe, I'm with the firemen." —Bill Biggart, American photo journalist (11 September 2001), message to his wife before dying in the collapse of the North Tower.
"I will never die." () —Mona Fandey, Malaysian pop singer, bomoh, and murderer (2 November 2001), prior to execution by hanging.
"Love one another." —George Harrison, English musician and songwriter (29 November 2001), to his wife, Olivia Harrison, and son, Dhani Harrison.
"Carol, I am so sorry for this. I feel I just can't go on. I have always tried to do the right thing but where there was once great pride now it's gone. I love you and the children so much. I just can't be any good to you or myself. The pain is overwhelming. Please try to forgive me. Cliff—J. Clifford Baxter." —J. Clifford Baxter, Enron executive (25 January 2002); his suicide note, addressed to his wife. Baxter had been slated to testify before United States congressional committees concerning the Enron scandal.
"Don't leave me like this." —Layne Staley, American musician and singer (5 April 2002).
"That's enough for today, Mr. Heise!" () —Robert Steinhäuser, German student and perpetrator of the Erfurt school massacre (26 April 2002), said to a teacher prior to committing suicide
"I found it very enjoyable. It had the depth of a puddle of water." () —Pim Fortuyn, Dutch politician (6 May 2002). Fortuyn was asked about the quality of an interview he was attending with Ruud de Wild. Shortly following the interview, he was assassinated by gunshot.
"Goodnight for the 4th time." —John Entwistle, English musician and bassist for The Who (27 June 2002), stated to groupie Alycen Rowse before going to sleep in bed with her.
"My fellow citizens, do cigarettes taste good? They are poisonous. I used to smoke two packs a day. Ha... I really regret it now. If only I had quit a year ago. My fellow citizens, cigarettes destroy families and health. My fellow citizens, you must quit smoking." ("") —Lee Ju-il, Korean politician and comedian (27 June 2002), died from lung cancer caused by smoking.
2002 Überlingen mid-air collision "Fuck me!" —First officer Brant Campioni, Canadian pilot of DHL Flight 611 (1 July 2002)
"Ugh!" ("") —Captain Alexander Gross, Russian pilot of Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 (1 July 2002)
"Yes, I would just like to say I'm sailing with the rock, and I'll be back, like Independence Day, with Jesus. June 6, like the movie. Big mother ship and all, I'll be back, I'll be back." —Aileen Wuornos, American prostitute and serial killer (9 October 2002), prior to execution by lethal injection
"It was the food!" —Richard Harris, Irish actor and singer (25 October 2002), while being wheeled out of the Savoy Hotel
"I die with the conviction, held since 1968 and Catonsville, that nuclear weapons are the scourge of the earth; to mine for them, manufacture them, deploy them, use them, is a curse against God, the human family, and the earth itself." —Philip Berrigan, American peace activist and former Roman Catholic priest (6 December 2002); final statement dictated to his wife, Elizabeth McAlister
"I told u I was hardcore [...] u are so fucking stupid" —Brandon Vedas (also known by his nickname ripper on IRC), American computer enthusiast, recreational drug user and member of the Shroomery.org community (12 January 2003), who died of a multiple drug overdose while discussing what he was doing via IRC chat and webcam. "I told u I was hardcore" was one of the last things Vedas typed, a phrase often quoted sarcastically on Internet message boards and discussion sites.
"Help me, help me." —Stephen Oake, QGM, Greater Manchester Police counter-terrorism detective (14 January 2003), while being stabbed in the chest by Algerian illegal immigrant Kamel Bourgass
"Roger, uh, bu-" —Rick Husband, American astronaut (1 February 2003), final transmission received prior to the disintegration of Space Shuttle Columbia during reentry
"Am I a sheep?" —Fred Rogers, American television host, writer, producer, and minister (27 February 2003), question he'd given to his wife Joanne in reference to the Last Judgment of the Bible.
"Channel 5 is all shit, isn't it? Christ, the crap they put on there. It's a waste of space." —Adam Faith, English singer and actor (8 March 2003)
"Depression! Many thanks to all my friends. Many thanks to Professor Felice Lieh-Mak (Cheung's last psychiatrist). This year has been so tough. I can't stand it anymore. Many thanks to Tong Tong (nickname for Cheung's boyfriend Daffy Tong). Many thanks to my family. Many thanks to Sister Fei. In my life I have done nothing bad. Why does it have to be like this?" () —Leslie Cheung, Hong Kong singer and actor (1 April 2003), on his suicide note, before jumping from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong.
"Leave me alone, I'm fine." —Barry White, American singer and songwriter (4 July 2003), to a nurse
"Surprise me."