Watch viral video: Ruben Amorim makes unfortunate plane crash comparison on 9/11 anniversary, then realises mistake

Ruben Amorim was trying to explain a fairly ordinary footballing principle: Milan need to learn from their mistakes and make better use of every training session. Instead, the AC Milan manager found himself reaching for an analogy that could hardly have landed at a worse time.Speaking to reporters ahead of Milan’s Serie A meeting with Lazio, Amorim compared the process of learning from mistakes in training to what happens after a plane crash. The remark quickly went viral, with the Portuguese manager appearing to realise almost immediately that his choice of words was particularly unfortunate given that the press conference fell on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.Amorim quickly realises his plane-crash comparison was inappropriateAmorim was discussing Milan’s development and the importance of making improvements from one training session to the next when he introduced the comparison.“We have to get better during every training session,” Amorim said.“It’s just like with plane crashes. That’s where you learn... This is not a good comparison.”The Milan boss then gave a nervous laugh, seemingly recognising the timing and nature of what he had just said, before attempting to clarify the point he had been making.“But you understand what I mean,” Amorim continued. “If something goes wrong, we absorb all the information and apply it in training.”The comments came on September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, in which four hijacked passenger planes were crashed in the United States. Two struck the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York, one hit the Pentagon and another crashed in Pennsylvania.The attacks killed 2,977 people.Footage of Amorim’s comments subsequently spread rapidly on social media. One video was reported to have amassed around eight million views on X at the time of reporting.The remark was made during Amorim’s pre-match press conference ahead of Milan’s trip to Lazio. The Rossoneri had begun the new Serie A campaign unbeaten, taking three points from their opening three matches, and Amorim was primarily discussing how he wanted his side to continue improving.His intended point was that mistakes provide information that can be studied and used to prevent the same problems from happening again. The comparison, however, prompted immediate attention because of the subject matter and the date on which he made it.At the time of publication, neither Amorim nor AC Milan had issued a statement or response regarding the comments.The former Manchester United manager is now preparing his side for Saturday night’s meeting with Lazio, with Milan looking to build on their unbeaten start to the Serie A season.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.