I would suggest the entire US Air Crew and the others that participated in the rescue of passengers and crew all qualify.
As to the rest of the us being less than Heroes....Will Rogers once said "We cannot all be Heroes...someone has to stand on the side and applaud as they march by."
he⋅ro
/ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [heer-oh] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology.
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.