One decision at Orlando airport may have changed 9/11 history

Twenty-five years ago, one man’s decision at Orlando International Airport may have changed the course of history.One month before the September 11 attacks, immigration inspector José Meléndez Pérez refused to let a suspicious traveler enter the country.That man would later be identified as the suspected twentieth hijacker.Channel 9’s Alexa Lorenzo sat down with Meléndez Pérez as the nation marks 25 years since the attacks.When asked whether it feels like 25 years have passed, Meléndez Pérez said, “It seems like it was yesterday.”On Aug. 4, 2001, Mohammed al Qahtani had just arrived at Orlando International Airport from Saudi Arabia.His passport was valid. So was his visa.But he had no return ticket, no place to stay and no clear reason for coming to the United States.The veteran immigration inspector had a feeling he could not ignore.“It was evil. I could see evil in his eyes,” Meléndez Pérez said.After more questioning, Meléndez Pérez denied al Qahtani entry and sent him back on the