1. A news story on September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attack
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World Trade Center Attack

September 11, 2001

Our prayers and deepest sympathy to everyone involved in this attack.

Photos

Our Brooklyn office was across the river from Manhattan, and has a full view of the World Trade Center. The following pictures were taken consecutively throughout the morning.

A shot of the beautiful, full Manhattan skyline several months before the attack:


appx. 8:45am, Sept. 11 Shortly after the first attack:


appx. 9:05am, Sept. 11 About a minute after the second attack:


appx. 10:45am, Sept. 11 Shortly after the first tower collapsed:



appx. 12:00pm, Sept. 11 After both towers have fallen and the rubble is beginning to clear:


6:15pm, Sept. 11 The view of the scene has changed very little. Smoke has overtaken most of lower Manhattan and the fumes and residue from the fires has traveled at least as far as Park Slope, Brooklyn.

11:45am, Sept. 13After two days (fifty-one hours after the first attack), the smoke continues to billow in the empty space that once held the twin towers of the World Trade Center:


6:00pm, Sept. 13 After fifty-seven hours, the smoke is just starting to clear:

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Summary of Events

The events on September 11, 2001, chronologically, are:

• Airplane hits North tower, at about 8:45am
• Airplane hits South tower, at about 9:05am
• The South tower collapses, at roughly 10:30am (not clear as to whether the entire tower is leveled or only the top-half -- we cannot see through the rubble)
• The North tower collapses, at roughly 11:00am (again, not clear as to how much of the tower, if any, remains standing)
• World Trade Center Building #7 collapes, at roughly 6:00pm (building 7 is a 57-story building that caught on fire as a result of the attack)

According to CNN, the planes that were used in the attack were American Airlines Flight 11 (a Boeing 767 carrying 92 people) and United Airlines Flight 175. Flight 11 hit the north tower, and flight 175 hit the south tower.

I personally witnessed the attack on the second tower. I was awestruck by the event, but it did not appear to be a passenger jet to me. It appeared to be a large, black, airplane. (6:15pm, 9/11 update: After seeing the impact several times on CBS news, it became apparent to me that the plane appeared black because it was pitched slightly up and to the left as it hit the building. I saw the underside of the airplane, which was not lit by the sun.) It flew across the sky, and directly into the middle of the South tower. Several floors exploded into flames after the crash (see pictures above). Words cannot express the horror that was felt by all those witnessing the second attack, and the later collapse of each of the buildings. The impact was audible on the Brooklyn side of the river, but was not overly load or explosive. At this point, it appears that neither of the planes carried any explosives.

We've been plastered to the 1010 WINS (1010AM) news in New York. Radio reports say that there are several inches of dust and ash all throughout the WTC area. Many NYC-based workers are leaving their jobs, walking home to the outer boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens). Limited train and ferry service is starting up again (as of 1:15pm) for people leaving Manhattan. It appears as if all bridges to Manhattan are open for outgoing, foot traffic only.

All New York City public schools are closed tomorrow, September 12, as are the financial markets worldwide (NYSE, NASDAQ, London, Japan, Germany). All business south of 14th street in Manhattan are closed. Mayor Guilliani has urged all citizens that work in Manhattan not to go to work tomorrow unless they absolutely have to.