Northumbrian Gunner: New York 2016

On the 10th September 2001 Vikki and I took a Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan.

New York Circle Line Cruise Ticket
10th September 2001

The Cruise took us past the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre and recalled memories of having a few beers in Windows on the World a few years previous.

Twin Towers World Trade Centre New York
10th September 2001

The morning of 11th September 2001 was memorable for the bright blue sky. As we left the City we wondered when would we be back....and next time we would go to the top of the WTC

Memories of leaving Manhattan and looking up at the Twin Towers

Arriving at JFK for a flight to San Francisco we managed to miss our plane., so settled down to await the next flight at 11:30

At 08:46 Eastern Standard Time on 11th September 2001 hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in New York.

North Tower WTC 9/11

At JFK an Airport Worker told us that a light plane had crashed into the World Trade Centre. We all looked over towards Manhattan and could see the smoke coming from the North Tower.

JFK Airport New York 11th September 2001
Smoke trail from the North Tower of the World Trade Centre

Seven minutes later at 09:43 EST the South tower was struck by United Airlines Flight 175.

South Tower WTC 9/11

WTC 9/11 aircraft impacts

At that point it was realised these were no accidents... America was being targeted - this was an act of aggression.

It was now apparent that America was under attack and the decision was taken at 9:42 AM to ground all aircraft in American airspace and divert those approaching.

The flight boards at JFK all changed to flight cancelled - we now proceeded landside to find out what was happening.

The impact of the aircraft on both towers had weakened the load bearing structures and the intense fires from the jet fuel caused the floors to weaken as well. The effect was the structures failed. At 9:59 the South Tower collapsed after burning for 56 minutes.

South Tower WTC collapses

Standing in a queue at the American Airlines desk, word of the collapse of the South Tower came through. The ladies manning the desks burst into tears, many left their desks, unable to continue. Luckily I thought to use my American Airlines Platinum card to gain entry to a lounge and the ladies there fixed us up with a hotel booking.

We boarded an airport bus to take us to the JFK Ramada. Many on the bus were air crew who may have known those lost on the planes that flew into WTC.

The North Tower collapsed after burning for 102 minutes at 10:28.

WTC North Tower collapses

Whilst on the bus news came through of the collapse of the North Tower. The mood was very sombre as all contemplated about what was happening in lower Manhattan.

Our home for the new few days would be the JFK Ramada Hotel.

JFK Ramada Hotel

When we got to our room we switched on the TV and the full story of 9/11 began to emerge. New York was not the only attack.

The planes that hit the World Trade Centre in New York were two of four hijacked that morning, American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC at 9:37 EST, whilst United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into the ground in Pennsylvania after passengers prevented the hijackers from further action.

9/11 Hijacked aircraft and targets

The time in the hotel was filled almost constantly with what was happening in America and in Lower Manhattan.

The collapse of both towers left a huge mound of rubble 14 stories high and was termed Ground Zero.

Ground Zero

To commemorate 9/11 and remember those lost a memorial plaza has been built. Within the footprint of the twin towers, two waterfalls have been built, the actual foundations of the towers are in the 9/11 Memorial Museum below the plaza surrounding the waterfalls.

9/11 World Trade Centre Memorial Waterfalls

9/11 World Trade Centre Memorial Waterfall

The tops of the walls surrounding the waterfalls contain the names of those lost in the attack on the World Trade Centre on 11th September 2001, 295 on the hijacked planes, 2,606 in the World Trade Centre, and 6 killed in an earlier bombing of the WTC in 1993.