Introduction
On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as the United States suffered the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the fourth into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers heroically fought back. The attacks resulted in 2,977 deaths and over 25,000 injuries, forever changing the course of history.
In "Fall and Rise," author Mitchell Zuckoff takes readers beyond the headlines and statistics to explore the human stories behind this tragic day. Through meticulous research and interviews with survivors, first responders, and family members of victims, Zuckoff brings to life the experiences of those who lived through the attacks and those who lost their lives.
This book serves as a powerful reminder that behind every number is a person with a story. It honors the memory of those lost and celebrates the courage of those who survived and those who risked everything to help others. As the events of 9/11 recede further into history, "Fall and Rise" ensures that we never forget the individual lives impacted by this world-changing event.
The Planning of 9/11
The roots of the September 11 attacks can be traced back to 1998 when Osama bin Laden issued a fatwa, or religious decree, declaring war on the United States, its citizens, and its interests worldwide. While bin Laden had been on the radar of American intelligence agencies for some time due to his involvement in attacks in Yemen, Somalia, and elsewhere, the idea of a large-scale, coordinated terrorist attack on U.S. soil seemed unimaginable to most at the time.
The mastermind behind the attacks was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who initially envisioned an even more ambitious plan involving ten planes attacking targets on both U.S. coasts. This plan, known as the Planes Operation, was approved by bin Laden in a scaled-down version in 1999. To carry out the attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed needed operatives who spoke English, were familiar with Western culture, and could obtain travel visas to the United States.
One such recruit was Mohamed Atta, a 33-year-old Egyptian who had been radicalized while studying in Germany. After training in Afghanistan, bin Laden personally selected Atta as the tactical commander of the Planes Operation. Atta returned to Germany, where he began contacting American flight schools via email. By late summer 2000, Atta and a small group of fellow operatives had obtained new passports and tourist visas and traveled to Florida to begin flight training.
Meanwhile, bin Laden handpicked 16 additional men for the operation. One, who already had flight experience, was chosen as the fourth pilot. The others, intended to serve as "muscle" to control passengers and crew, received close combat training in Afghanistan. By spring 2001, all 19 terrorists had successfully entered the United States.
As spring turned to summer, bin Laden grew impatient and pushed for the operation to begin. However, Atta insisted on more time to prepare, continuing to take practice flights and study airport security procedures and airline crew routines. Finally, in late August, Atta selected September 11 as the date for the attack. Whether this date held any special significance or was chosen purely for logistical reasons remains unknown.
With the date set, the terrorists purchased plane tickets and secured accommodations near their target airports in Boston, Newark, and Washington, D.C. On the evening of September 10, they made their final preparations for what would be their last act on Earth.
The Morning of September 11
The events of September 11, 2001, began to unfold in the early morning hours as the hijackers and their unsuspecting fellow passengers arrived at airports across the northeastern United States. At Boston's Logan International Airport, flight attendant Betty Ong prepared for what she thought would be a routine flight to Los Angeles on American Airlines Flight 11. Little did she know that she would soon provide the world with the first indication that something was terribly wrong.
American Airlines Flight 11 took off at 7:59 a.m. with 92 people on board, including Mohamed Atta and four other hijackers. Less than 20 minutes into the flight, the terrorists sprang into action. At 8:19 a.m., Betty Ong used an onboard phone to contact American Airlines' reservations desk, calmly reporting, "I think we're being hijacked." She provided crucial information about the situation, including that the hijackers had taken control of the cockpit, a passenger had been stabbed, and that some kind of irritant was being used to subdue the remaining passengers and crew.
In the minutes surrounding Betty's call, two more flights departed: United Flight 175 left Boston for Los Angeles at 8:15 a.m., carrying 65 people including five hijackers, and American Flight 77 departed Washington Dulles International Airport for Los Angeles at 8:20 a.m. with 64 people aboard, including five hijackers. The passengers and crew on these flights were completely unaware of the unfolding crisis on American Flight 11.
The rapid succession of events was a critical factor in the terrorists' plan. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airlines, and military were suddenly inundated with conflicting information, struggling to make sense of an unprecedented situation. In previous hijackings, terrorists would typically force pilots to reroute planes to specific destinations. The idea of hijackers themselves flying the planes as weapons was beyond anyone's imagination at the time.
The final flight to depart that morning was United Flight 93, leaving Newark for San Francisco at 8:42 a.m. with 44 people on board, including four hijackers. By the time United 93 took off, news of the first two hijackings had begun to spread. Just four minutes later, at 8:46 a.m., American Flight 11 would crash into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, marking the beginning of a day that would change the world forever.
The Military Response
As the hijackings unfolded, the U.S. military found itself in an unprecedented situation, struggling to respond effectively to the rapidly evolving crisis. At the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS), Major Kevin Nasypany, the mission control commander, had planned a routine training exercise for September 11. Instead, he and his team would face the greatest challenge of their careers.
The first signs of trouble came when air traffic controllers at Boston Center lost contact with American Flight 11 at approximately 8:14 a.m. The plane made an unexpected turn toward New York, and its transponder was switched off at 8:21 a.m., making it difficult to track its speed and altitude. Initially assuming a technical malfunction, controllers soon realized they were dealing with a hijacking when they intercepted a transmission from the cockpit intended for passengers.
For the next 12 minutes, Boston Control followed standard hijacking protocols, attempting to contact the pilots through various means. At 8:34 a.m., they decided to seek military assistance, bypassing normal bureaucratic channels and contacting air bases directly. One of these calls reached Major Nasypany at NEADS.
Nasypany quickly sought authorization to launch two F-15 fighter jets from Otis Air National Guard Base, about 150 miles from New York City. However, with Flight 11's transponder off, they had no precise location to send the fighters. Complicating matters further, NEADS used a different radar system than the FAA, leading to misinterpretations and contradictory information.
When American Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., Major Nasypany and his team learned about it from a CNN news report, just like millions of others around the world. Still unaware of the other hijacked planes, the launched fighter jets continued searching for Flight 11, now no longer in the air.
This confusion and lack of clear information would persist throughout the morning, hampering the military's ability to respond effectively to the attacks. The unprecedented nature of the hijackings, combined with communication difficulties between civilian and military authorities, created a perfect storm that the terrorists exploited to devastating effect.
The World Trade Center
As the events in the sky unfolded, approximately 17,000 people were going about their workday in the World Trade Center complex. At 8:46 a.m., American Flight 11 slammed into the North Tower between the 93rd and 99th floors, instantly killing everyone on board and an unknown number of people in the building. The impact also severed all three emergency stairwells above the crash site, trapping an estimated 1,355 people on the upper floors.
In the South Tower, employees like Stan Praimnath, a 44-year-old Guyanese immigrant working on the 81st floor, were initially unaware of the cause of the explosion they heard and felt. Stan and his colleagues began to evacuate but were told by a security guard that the emergency was confined to the North Tower and that they should return to their offices. Reluctantly, Stan went back up, unaware of the danger that was rapidly approaching.
Meanwhile, those trapped in the North Tower were making desperate 911 calls, pleading for help as smoke and fire spread. The 911 operators did their best to reassure the victims that help was on the way, but with the stairwells blocked, there was no way for rescuers to reach them. As conditions worsened, many broke windows in search of fresh air, with some either falling or jumping to their deaths in desperation.
At 9:03 a.m., United Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower between the 77th and 85th floors. Stan Praimnath, who had just returned to his desk, saw the plane coming towards him and dove under his desk moments before impact. Miraculously, he survived and managed to crawl out into the debris-filled, smoke-filled office. There, he encountered Brian Clark, a 54-year-old Canadian from another floor who had come to help. Together, they made their way to safety, forming a bond that Stan described as "brothers for life."
The scene in Lower Manhattan quickly became one of chaos and horror. As first responders rushed into the burning towers, thousands of people streamed out onto the streets, covered in dust and debris. The world watched in disbelief as thick black smoke billowed from the iconic skyscrapers, with many wondering how such a thing could have happened.
At 9:59 a.m., less than an hour after being struck, the South Tower collapsed. The North Tower followed at 10:28 a.m. The collapses created massive clouds of dust and debris that engulfed Lower Manhattan, turning day into night and leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.
In total, 2,606 people lost their lives in and around the World Trade Center that day, including 343 firefighters and 60 police officers who had rushed into the buildings to save others. The attacks on the Twin Towers became the enduring image of 9/11, a symbol of both the horror of that day and the resilience of those who survived and those who risked everything to help others.
The Pentagon
As the world's attention was focused on the unfolding tragedy in New York, another attack was about to take place in Washington, D.C. At the Pentagon, 35-year-old Navy doctor Dave Tarantino watched the events in New York unfold on television, immediately suspecting Osama bin Laden's involvement. Little did he know that American Airlines Flight 77 was already on its way to strike the very building he was in.
Flight 77 had begun showing signs of trouble at 8:54 a.m. when it made an unauthorized turn and its transponder signal was lost. Air traffic controllers in Indianapolis, unaware of the crisis unfolding elsewhere, assumed the plane had suffered a mechanical failure and crashed. For 36 minutes, Flight 77 flew undetected until it reappeared on radar screens at Dulles Airport at 9:32 a.m.
Langley Air Force Base was alerted to the threat, and two F-16 fighters were scrambled. However, due to a lack of specific information, the pilots assumed they were defending against a potential missile attack or Russian incursion and headed out to sea following standard protocol.
At 9:37 a.m., American Flight 77 struck the west wall of the Pentagon, killing all 59 people on board and dozens of Pentagon workers instantly. The survivors inside the building faced a hellish scene of flames, toxic smoke, and falling debris.
As many rushed to evacuate, Dave Tarantino's combat medical training kicked in. Knowing that most people would instinctively try to escape towards the building's outer edges, he realized that the safer route was through the Pentagon's central courtyard. Using wet paper towels as a makeshift gas mask, Tarantino bravely headed into the inferno to search for survivors.
Thanks to the heroic efforts of Tarantino and others like him, hundreds of people were able to escape the burning building. In total, 125 Pentagon workers lost their lives in the attack, in addition to those on the plane.
The attack on the Pentagon was a clear signal that America was under a coordinated assault. At 9:42 a.m., just five minutes after the Pentagon was hit, the FAA took the unprecedented step of ordering every aircraft in U.S. airspace to land immediately at the nearest airport. At that moment, 4,546 planes were in the air. All but one of them complied with the order and landed safely. The exception was United Flight 93, whose passengers and crew were about to make history.
United Flight 93
United Flight 93 was the last of the four hijacked planes to take off on September 11, departing Newark International Airport at 8:42 a.m., more than 40 minutes behind schedule due to runway congestion. This delay would prove crucial, as it meant the passengers and crew of Flight 93 would learn about the attacks in New York and Washington before their own plane was hijacked.
At 9:28 a.m., the four hijackers on board Flight 93 sprang into action. Unlike the other flights, air traffic controllers were able to hear sounds of a struggle as one of the pilots repeatedly keyed the radio, allowing transmissions from the cockpit to be heard on the ground. Cleveland Center quickly realized another hijacking was in progress and immediately contacted the FAA's Command Center to request military assistance.
Meanwhile, passengers and crew members on Flight 93 began making phone calls to loved ones on the ground, just as those on the other hijacked planes had done. However, by this time, the attacks on the World Trade Center were being broadcast live on television. The people on Flight 93 learned that two planes had already crashed into the Twin Towers, and they quickly realized their plane was likely intended for a similar fate.
As the plane flew towards Washington, D.C., the remaining crew members and passengers discussed the situation and formulated a plan. They were determined not to allow their plane to be used as a weapon against another target. Near the back of the plane, Todd Beamer, a 32-year-old software salesman, attempted to call his wife but was instead connected to airphone supervisor Lisa Jefferson. Todd provided details about the hijackers and the passengers' plan to retake the plane. His last words to Lisa Jefferson, "Let's roll," became a rallying cry in the aftermath of 9/11.
At approximately 9:59 a.m., the cockpit voice recorder began picking up sounds of a struggle. A cacophony of shouts, crashes, and breaking glass provided evidence of the passengers' attempts to regain control of the plane. Within minutes, it became clear to the hijackers that they would not reach their intended target, believed to be either the U.S. Capitol or the White House. As the passengers continued their assault on the cockpit, the hijackers made the decision to crash the plane rather than risk being overpowered.
At 10:03 a.m., United Flight 93 plummeted into a field just outside the small town of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All 40 passengers and crew members died instantly, but their heroic actions had prevented what was intended to be the day's fourth terrorist attack. No one on the ground was harmed, and countless lives were likely saved by their sacrifice.
The story of Flight 93 quickly became a symbol of American resilience and courage in the face of terror. The passengers and crew, ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, chose to fight back against their attackers, knowing full well that their actions would likely cost them their lives. Their bravery ensured that Flight 93 would be remembered not just as a tragedy, but as an inspiring example of heroism in the darkest of moments.
The First Responders
As the Twin Towers burned and panic spread through Lower Manhattan, thousands of people fled the area seeking safety. But amid the chaos and danger, a brave group of individuals ran towards the disaster. New York's first responders - firefighters, paramedics, and police officers - raced into the burning buildings, determined to save as many lives as possible.
For years, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) had dreaded the possibility of a major fire in one of the city's skyscrapers. In 1999, FDNY Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn had candidly admitted that it would be impossible to extinguish a large blaze in an open-floor area of a skyscraper due to the sheer volume of water required at such heights. The best they could hope for was that the fire would burn itself out while they focused on rescuing trapped civilians.
But on 9/11, with thousands of gallons of jet fuel feeding the fires, there was no chance of the blaze burning out on its own. Despite the overwhelming odds, rescue personnel entered first the North Tower and then the South, searching for passable stairwells to bring people to safety.
At 9:59 a.m., less than an hour after being struck, the South Tower collapsed. The sudden destruction killed everyone still inside, including hundreds of emergency responders and approximately 619 people trapped on or above the 77th floor. The collapse sent shockwaves of fear through those still working in the North Tower, as it became clear that total structural failure was a real possibility.
FDNY Chief Joe Pfeifer issued an immediate evacuation order to all firefighters in the North Tower. However, due to unreliable radio communications, many never received this crucial message. Those who didn't hear the order were left to rely on their own judgment in deciding whether to continue rescue efforts or retreat.
One of those firefighters was Captain Jay Jonas of Ladder Company 6. When the South Tower fell, he and his team were on the 27th floor of the North Tower in Stairwell B. After confirming through a window what had happened to the South Tower, Captain Jonas made the decision to lead his men to safety.
As they descended, they encountered Josephine Harris, a 59-year-old civilian struggling to make it down the stairs due to a bad leg. Despite the imminent danger, the men of Ladder 6 vowed to get Josephine out alive. They slowed their pace to match hers, even as every instinct told them to run.
The group had only made it as far as the fourth floor when, at 10:28 a.m., the North Tower began to collapse. In a miracle of timing and location, Captain Jonas, Josephine, and the rest of Ladder 6 found themselves trapped but alive within a small section of Stairwell B that remained intact. They emerged from the rubble hours later, realizing that if they had been much higher or lower in the building, they likely would not have survived.
Josephine Harris was later made an honorary member of Ladder Company 6 and given the title "Guardian Angel" in recognition of how her presence had inadvertently saved the lives of the firefighters who stayed behind to help her.
The heroism displayed by first responders on 9/11 came at a terrible cost. In total, 343 firefighters and 60 police officers lost their lives that day. Many more would suffer long-term health effects from exposure to toxic dust and debris. Their sacrifice serves as a testament to the extraordinary courage of those who run towards danger when others flee, risking everything to save the lives of strangers.
The Aftermath and Legacy
In the hours, days, and weeks following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and indeed the world grappled with the enormity of what had occurred. The immediate aftermath was marked by shock, grief, and a desperate search for survivors amid the rubble of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
As the dust settled, literally and figuratively, the full scope of the tragedy became clear. In addition to the 2,977 people killed in the attacks, tens of thousands more were left injured, traumatized, or facing long-term health issues. The skyline of New York City was forever altered, with the absence of the Twin Towers serving as a constant reminder of the lives lost and the world forever changed.
The attacks had far-reaching consequences that would reshape global politics, military strategy, and everyday life for millions of people. The United States quickly declared a "War on Terror," leading to military interventions in Afghanistan and later Iraq. At home, new security measures were implemented at airports, government buildings, and public spaces across the country. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security marked a significant restructuring of the U.S. government in response to the perceived threats.
But beyond these broad societal changes, the legacy of 9/11 is perhaps most powerfully felt in the individual stories of those who lived through that day and those who did not. Families who lost loved ones found ways to honor their memories and ensure that their stories would not be forgotten. Survivors grappled with survivor's guilt, PTSD, and in many cases, ongoing health issues related to their experiences.
First responders, once hailed as heroes, faced a long battle for recognition of and compensation for the health problems many developed due to exposure to toxic materials at Ground Zero. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, passed in 2010 and later extended, finally provided some measure of support for these individuals.
In the years since 9/11, numerous memorials have been erected to commemorate the victims and events of that day. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania serve as powerful reminders of the lives lost and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Perhaps one of the most important legacies of 9/11 is the ongoing effort to ensure that future generations, who have no personal memory of that day, understand its significance. Books like "Fall and Rise" play a crucial role in this effort, preserving the individual stories that make up the larger narrative of 9/11 and reminding us of the very real human cost behind the statistics and historical accounts.
Conclusion
"Fall and Rise" by Mitchell Zuckoff serves as a powerful and necessary reminder of the human stories behind one of the most significant events in modern history. By focusing on the experiences of individuals - from the passengers and crew of the hijacked planes to the office workers in the World Trade Center, from the first responders who rushed into danger to the military personnel scrambling to defend against an unprecedented threat - Zuckoff brings the events of September 11, 2001, into sharp, personal focus.
The book's strength lies in its ability to convey the confusion, fear, courage, and ultimately the humanity of those caught up in the attacks. It reminds us that behind every statistic, every historical fact about 9/11, there are real people with families, dreams, and stories of their own.
Through these individual narratives, larger themes emerge: the randomness of fate that determined who lived and who died that day; the extraordinary courage displayed by ordinary people thrust into unimaginable circumstances; the failure of systems and institutions to anticipate or effectively respond to the attacks; and the profound ways in which a single day changed the course of history.
"Fall and Rise" also serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. While it does not shy away from depicting the horror and tragedy of 9/11, it also highlights countless acts of heroism, compassion, and selflessness. From the passengers of Flight 93 who sacrificed themselves to save others, to the first responders who ran into burning buildings to rescue strangers, to the countless small acts of kindness in the aftermath of the attacks, the book reminds us of the best of humanity in the face of the worst.
As we move further away in time from September 11, 2001, books like "Fall and Rise" become increasingly important. For those who lived through that day, it serves as a powerful reminder of what was lost and what was learned. For younger generations with no personal memory of 9/11, it provides a visceral, human-centered account that goes beyond dry historical facts.
Ultimately, "Fall and Rise" is not just about remembering the past; it's about understanding how that past continues to shape our present and future. By preserving these stories, Zuckoff ensures that we never forget the individual lives behind the collective tragedy of 9/11. In doing so, he honors the memory of those lost and provides a compelling argument for why, even as years pass, it remains vital to continue telling and retelling the story of September 11, 2001.