An author named Garrett M. Graff has written a book called The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11. I just ordered a copy for my Kindle after reading this article. The article is about the sheer randomness in why certain people died on 9/11 — people who were or were not on one of the planes or in the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. Two people were fleeing the towers. One turned left and one turned right. One made it out alive and the other didn't.
It's an interesting aspect of life to ponder and not just with regard to major catastrophes. Sometimes, the decision on whether you go to the Ralphs Market or the Vons Market can have a major impact on your existence, and not just because one place has fresher produce.