Trapped Voices of 9/11: The Unforgettable Calls from Inside the Towers
On that fateful September 11th morning, millions worldwide tuned in to their TVs, witnessing an unimaginable tragedy. At 8:46 a.m., a hijacked plane slammed into 1 World Trade Center (the north tower). At 9:03 a.m., another hijacked plane struck 2 World Trade Center (the south tower). And the horror continued – at 9:59 a.m., the south tower crumbled, followed by the north tower at 10:28 a.m.
In those harrowing moments between the initial impact and the towers’ collapse, trapped individuals reached out via phone to loved ones and emergency services. Their calls echoed courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
A 2009 documentary, “9/11 Phone Calls from the Towers,” shed new light on this dark chapter in American history, revealing the thoughts and conversations of those inside. Families and friends of the victims shared these conversations, some through recorded messages and others through recollections.
Here, we present some of these poignant calls:
- Jim Gartenberg’s Call to His Wife, Jill
Jim Gartenberg, a real estate executive on the 86th floor of the north tower, made a call to his wife, Jill. He reported a fire and reassured her amidst chaos.
- Melissa Harrington-Hughes’ Calls to Her Husband, Sean, and Father, Bob
Melissa Harrington-Hughes, a business executive on the 101st floor of the north tower, left messages for her husband and called her father after the initial impact.
- Christopher Hanley’s 911 Call
Christopher Hanley, attending a conference on the 106th floor of the north tower, made one of the first recorded calls of that day, describing the situation.
- Brad Fetchet’s Call to His Mother
Brad Fetchet, a trader on the 89th floor of the south tower, reassured his mother of his safety and shared his experiences.
- Shimmy Biegeleisen’s Calls to Friends and Family
Shimmy Biegeleisen, a systems analyst on the 97th floor of the south tower, reached out to family and friends. He later sought advice from friends like Jack Edelstein and David.
- Stephen Mulderry’s Call to His Mother
Stephen Mulderry, trapped on the 89th floor of the south tower, reassured his mother amidst the unfolding disaster.
- Brian Nunez’s Call to His Brother, Neal Green
Brian Nunez, on the 104th floor of the north tower, made multiple attempts to contact his brother Neal Green. His final message was heart-wrenching.
- Tom McGinnis’ Call to His Wife, Iliana
Tom McGinnis, stuck inside a conference room, shared a dire situation with his wife and expressed his love.
- Jeffrey Nussbaum’s Call to His Mother
Jeffrey Nussbaum reported a worsening situation with smoke and water on the 911 call from the tower.
- Kevin Cosgrove’s 911 Call
Kevin Cosgrove, on the 105th floor of the south tower, made a heart-rending call as the tower collapsed around him.
- Walter Hynes’s Calls to His Wife
Firefighter Walter Hynes left a message for his wife on his way to the scene, preparing for a challenging day ahead.
- Orio Palmer’s Radio Calls
Orio Palmer, Chief of Battalion 7 and a first responder, played a pivotal role in the early moments of the response, demonstrating exceptional courage.
These calls serve as powerful reminders of the indomitable human spirit during times of unfathomable adversity.