11/09/2001 - what where you doing when the first plane struck
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Decorating the master bedroom en-suite in my old house, wifette told me a plane had hit the WTC, thought it must be some cessna or similar.
Have all the papers from Sept 12th 01 and the magazines from the time stored away.
Have all the papers from Sept 12th 01 and the magazines from the time stored away.
Think i had just got in from an early finish at college that day. Flicked on Sky News after seeing some text on the bottom of one of the other Sky channels.
Saw the second plane hit live and sat there in silence for about 5 minutes without realising what had happened. Only the phone ringing brought me out of the trance I was in staring at the TV.
Saw the second plane hit live and sat there in silence for about 5 minutes without realising what had happened. Only the phone ringing brought me out of the trance I was in staring at the TV.
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I am sure I was listening to Chris Moyle's at about 2pm(ish) he said small plane had hit the WTC tower and for the rest of the afternoon would be just playing low key music with no talking or jokes. I though it was a bit strange until I got home and put sky news on just as the second tower started to collapse, will never forget watching it live on TV it was truly unbelievable when the building fell and just disappeared?
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From: Runway two seven right.
In work at ExxonMobil in Leatherhead. Got back to my desk after lunch and people were moaning the internet had crashed. Ran a few checks and realised it wasn't anything in house, so I was off the hook!
Me and a colleague ran into the boardroom and put on BBC news where we and some others who joined us watched the horror unfold. I think I went home at 3pm and found my wife watching Teletubbies on the sofa with my 2 year old daughter. She knew from my face that something serious had happened. We put my daughter in the play room and watched the aftermath in silence.
The whole day is etched in my mind. I hope that we never witness anything like that again.
RIP in those who died that day, except those who committed the atrocity. I hope they rot in the fires of hell until it freezes over.
Me and a colleague ran into the boardroom and put on BBC news where we and some others who joined us watched the horror unfold. I think I went home at 3pm and found my wife watching Teletubbies on the sofa with my 2 year old daughter. She knew from my face that something serious had happened. We put my daughter in the play room and watched the aftermath in silence.
The whole day is etched in my mind. I hope that we never witness anything like that again.
RIP in those who died that day, except those who committed the atrocity. I hope they rot in the fires of hell until it freezes over.
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From: Leeds, West Yorkshire
I was off work that day and had called round to a mates garage. His radio was one and it'd mention something about a plane hitting the WTC, same as a lot of people here I assumed it was a light aircraft or something so just dismissed it at first. I got home about 30mins after and my parents had the Sky news on, I was just fixed on the TV for about an hour, watching the whole thing over and over again
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From: Essex
I had got back from a holiday in Tenerife a couple of days earlier and had a few extra days off to start decorating one of the spare rooms in my house. My mate had come over to help me strip the wallpaper off the walls, we had been going for a little while when I decided we should have some music to listen to so turned on the radio. Just caught the end of a news bulletin when the DJ said "....and the extraordinary events unfolding in New York". I looked at my mate and then we went down stairs and put on the TV to see what was going on.
The image that greeted us was of the first tower with smoke billowing out of it. About two minutes later, the second tower was hit!
We sat and watched the TV for the rest of the day, no more decorating got done that day.
I've also got a couple of news papers from the 12th September tucked away.
It still shocks me even now when I see the images of that day, although it's something I seem to have a morbid curiosity about and often find myself watching videos and reading first hand accounts of survivors from that day. It's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life I think.
The image that greeted us was of the first tower with smoke billowing out of it. About two minutes later, the second tower was hit!
We sat and watched the TV for the rest of the day, no more decorating got done that day.
I've also got a couple of news papers from the 12th September tucked away.
It still shocks me even now when I see the images of that day, although it's something I seem to have a morbid curiosity about and often find myself watching videos and reading first hand accounts of survivors from that day. It's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life I think.
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Driving down to dover when one of the planes hit. Didn't have the radio on, so I knew nothing until I arrived.
Getting the train back to london listening to events on the radio when the second plane hit. It was a sobering experience being on public transport as it happened, let me tell you.
astraboy.
Getting the train back to london listening to events on the radio when the second plane hit. It was a sobering experience being on public transport as it happened, let me tell you.
astraboy.
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From: West Wales
I was in work but as most of the insurers had closed due to the attack we all went home. Wife was the size of a house being 7 months pregnant and we watched it all on TV.
Its my brothers birthday and he was on a plane to Malasyia. Daughter has a mate in her class who was born on the same day.
Its my brothers birthday and he was on a plane to Malasyia. Daughter has a mate in her class who was born on the same day.
I was delivering around Birmingham. No radio on, no idea what was happening. Pulled into a customers yard and found all the lads in the crew room watching tv. The day was a little surreal after that.
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From: RIP Tam.
We were on our honeymoon in Florida (married on 8/11/2001), we had just set off on a long drive to Miami for the day, we thought it was a radio show. I suppose it didn't really hit home until on the way back we saw all the toll booths deserted, Disney was shut and then we saw it on the TV, they just kept playing it over and over.
It was our first time out on such a long holiday, we thought about going home (but couldn't no flights) and we spoke to people in Walmart (of all places) who were left stranded because of the flights cancellations.
For us it was a scary time, even though we we far enough away, we actually felt vunerable and scared I supposed because we were so far away from friends and family.
It was our first time out on such a long holiday, we thought about going home (but couldn't no flights) and we spoke to people in Walmart (of all places) who were left stranded because of the flights cancellations.
For us it was a scary time, even though we we far enough away, we actually felt vunerable and scared I supposed because we were so far away from friends and family.
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From: S.E London
Sitting at home, got a phone call from a friend just saying " turn on sky news, turn on sky news.... There has been a plane crash"
Then sat there for the next 8+ hours wondering whatever next.
Years later I was at work when we received a phone call from a hysterical courier screaming " it's gone, it's just gone, it's blown up, the bus has just gone." was about 5 cars back from the bus that was blown up in 7/7.
Then as the seconds ticked by it became apparent it was out turn.
Crazy times eh. RIP all those lost to these events.
Then sat there for the next 8+ hours wondering whatever next.
Years later I was at work when we received a phone call from a hysterical courier screaming " it's gone, it's just gone, it's blown up, the bus has just gone." was about 5 cars back from the bus that was blown up in 7/7.
Then as the seconds ticked by it became apparent it was out turn.
Crazy times eh. RIP all those lost to these events.
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From: Sheffield; Rome of the North
I was off work that day, helping my brother arragne the shipping of his belongings to Sydney. The shipping agent was distracted on the phone and said that Sky news said that a private plane had crashed into the WTC.
He described what he saw, saying that it seemed like a lot of smoke for a small plane, so I tried the BBC (I havent ever had satelite television). Within a couple of minutes theyd broken into whatever had been on, and it obvious, despite the confusion and contradiction, that something very big had occurred, whether the commentators/journalists realised or not.
They were still pursuing the 'Cessna' story when we all saw the second airliner crash; leaving everyone in little doubt as to what had happened. We sat watching, as most others able to did Im sure, until the first tower collapsed. At this point I didnt think that it could get any worse, so we prised ourselves away from the television and tried to carry on; later to hear that the second tower had collapsed too.
Simon
He described what he saw, saying that it seemed like a lot of smoke for a small plane, so I tried the BBC (I havent ever had satelite television). Within a couple of minutes theyd broken into whatever had been on, and it obvious, despite the confusion and contradiction, that something very big had occurred, whether the commentators/journalists realised or not.
They were still pursuing the 'Cessna' story when we all saw the second airliner crash; leaving everyone in little doubt as to what had happened. We sat watching, as most others able to did Im sure, until the first tower collapsed. At this point I didnt think that it could get any worse, so we prised ourselves away from the television and tried to carry on; later to hear that the second tower had collapsed too.
Simon
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Think i had just got in from an early finish at college that day. Flicked on Sky News after seeing some text on the bottom of one of the other Sky channels.
Saw the second plane hit live and sat there in silence for about 5 minutes without realising what had happened. Only the phone ringing brought me out of the trance I was in staring at the TV.
Saw the second plane hit live and sat there in silence for about 5 minutes without realising what had happened. Only the phone ringing brought me out of the trance I was in staring at the TV.
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I was getting my MSc dissertation bound actually.
Heard someone mention it and initially though it was a joke - the idea did not sink in - until I saw what was going on through the internet.
Then I saw several cars full of Pakistanis cruising around honking their horns, fist pumping, generally celebrating.
Very surreal.
Heard someone mention it and initially though it was a joke - the idea did not sink in - until I saw what was going on through the internet.
Then I saw several cars full of Pakistanis cruising around honking their horns, fist pumping, generally celebrating.
Very surreal.
I was just gathering my Parachute in Lower Manhattan...
Actually at work, at the Police in Old Trafford, the wife rang to inform me, dug my LCD telly out of my desk and saw the second one crash, my boss told me to put it away, I ignored him, biggest thing to happen in our time and I didnt want, couldnt in fact sit there and pretend nothing was happening.
Actually at work, at the Police in Old Trafford, the wife rang to inform me, dug my LCD telly out of my desk and saw the second one crash, my boss told me to put it away, I ignored him, biggest thing to happen in our time and I didnt want, couldnt in fact sit there and pretend nothing was happening.
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I used to work for a Japanese bank in those days and our New York branch was in the WTC. I had been over there to work and used to sit bored in meetings watching the planes circling below before going in to land.
On the day i was in London high up in Citbank's building in Canary Wharf having a business lunch. Lunch was cut short as there were rumours that planes had taken off from Amsterdam that had gone missing....Untrue in the end.
I went back to my office and watched the second plane go in on a huge screen in our dealing room and eventually the towers come down. What made it all the more terrible for us was that the second plane went in the windows of our branch (we had 3 floors of the second tower) and many of my colleagues that I knew well didn't make it. Mainly the Japanese guys as they were waiting for the boss to come in to tell them they could go, not knowing he was being held back at a police road block many stories below. One friend looked up while on the phone just in time to see a flash of silver as the second plane went in the floor above him. All the celings came down and walls fell on him. When he came to he couldn't get out, but he shouted and some of our other colleagues heard him and helped him out down the one remaining stairwell. They made it down the stairs and out, but no one from any of the floors above did.
My direct boss in London for 6 years was one of the guys who just ceased to be - the only consolation is that as he was on the floors above he probably died instantaneously. He was a good man with a lovely wife and young kids.
Not good memories
On the day i was in London high up in Citbank's building in Canary Wharf having a business lunch. Lunch was cut short as there were rumours that planes had taken off from Amsterdam that had gone missing....Untrue in the end.
I went back to my office and watched the second plane go in on a huge screen in our dealing room and eventually the towers come down. What made it all the more terrible for us was that the second plane went in the windows of our branch (we had 3 floors of the second tower) and many of my colleagues that I knew well didn't make it. Mainly the Japanese guys as they were waiting for the boss to come in to tell them they could go, not knowing he was being held back at a police road block many stories below. One friend looked up while on the phone just in time to see a flash of silver as the second plane went in the floor above him. All the celings came down and walls fell on him. When he came to he couldn't get out, but he shouted and some of our other colleagues heard him and helped him out down the one remaining stairwell. They made it down the stairs and out, but no one from any of the floors above did.
My direct boss in London for 6 years was one of the guys who just ceased to be - the only consolation is that as he was on the floors above he probably died instantaneously. He was a good man with a lovely wife and young kids.
Not good memories
I used to work for a Japanese bank in those days and our New York branch was in the WTC. I had been over there to work and used to sit bored in meetings watching the planes circling below before going in to land.
On the day i was in London high up in Citbank's building in Canary Wharf having a business lunch. Lunch was cut short as there were rumours that planes had taken off from Amsterdam that had gone missing....Untrue in the end.
I went back to my office and watched the second plane go in on a huge screen in our dealing room and eventually the towers come down. What made it all the more terrible for us was that the second plane went in the windows of our branch (we had 3 floors of the second tower) and many of my colleagues that I knew well didn't make it. Mainly the Japanese guys as they were waiting for the boss to come in to tell them they could go, not knowing he was being held back at a police road block many stories below. One friend looked up while on the phone just in time to see a flash of silver as the second plane went in the floor above him. All the celings came down and walls fell on him. When he came to he couldn't get out, but he shouted and some of our other colleagues heard him and helped him out down the one remaining stairwell. They made it down the stairs and out, but no one from any of the floors above did.
My direct boss in London for 6 years was one of the guys who just ceased to be - the only consolation is that as he was on the floors above he probably died instantaneously. He was a good man with a lovely wife and young kids.
Not good memories
On the day i was in London high up in Citbank's building in Canary Wharf having a business lunch. Lunch was cut short as there were rumours that planes had taken off from Amsterdam that had gone missing....Untrue in the end.
I went back to my office and watched the second plane go in on a huge screen in our dealing room and eventually the towers come down. What made it all the more terrible for us was that the second plane went in the windows of our branch (we had 3 floors of the second tower) and many of my colleagues that I knew well didn't make it. Mainly the Japanese guys as they were waiting for the boss to come in to tell them they could go, not knowing he was being held back at a police road block many stories below. One friend looked up while on the phone just in time to see a flash of silver as the second plane went in the floor above him. All the celings came down and walls fell on him. When he came to he couldn't get out, but he shouted and some of our other colleagues heard him and helped him out down the one remaining stairwell. They made it down the stairs and out, but no one from any of the floors above did.
My direct boss in London for 6 years was one of the guys who just ceased to be - the only consolation is that as he was on the floors above he probably died instantaneously. He was a good man with a lovely wife and young kids.
Not good memories
I was in Detroit in the RenCen at the time. Was just before 9am in the States, so everyone was getting to work and having coffee. Remember watching on the TV in one of the kitchen areas.
Our building got evacuated mid-morning (RenCen is the tallest building in Detroit). Strangely, and I don't know why - other than we didn't recognise the full extent - we borrowed an office from one of our suppliers and carried on working. It wasn't until that evening sat in a bar after work that we realised just how major an event this was.
Was some days before I could get a flight home.
Our building got evacuated mid-morning (RenCen is the tallest building in Detroit). Strangely, and I don't know why - other than we didn't recognise the full extent - we borrowed an office from one of our suppliers and carried on working. It wasn't until that evening sat in a bar after work that we realised just how major an event this was.
Was some days before I could get a flight home.
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From: Malta
Had my son (first child) on the 5th, so I was on paternity leave with the wife just out of hospital. We'd gone out to Boots, for some baby supplies (you never prepare enough!), just as the first plane hit. Walking around the shops and everything had kinda slowed down, staff not paying attention, people listening to the radio, streets we're quieter than expected. Was on all the TV's and everyone was telling everyone about it.
We got back in just as the first tower fell (saw it on TV). Watched it for most of the afternoon.
I remember being really happy about having our first born at home and suddenly it was tempered and I genuinely thought "my god what a world I have brought him into". To this day I remain protective of their rights as innocent kids - film ratings, games ratings, going to bed early, real play time (with me). Whether that would always have been the case, even without the attacks, I don't know. But I certainly want them to enjoy their time as kids before they see the real big bad world.
We got back in just as the first tower fell (saw it on TV). Watched it for most of the afternoon.
I remember being really happy about having our first born at home and suddenly it was tempered and I genuinely thought "my god what a world I have brought him into". To this day I remain protective of their rights as innocent kids - film ratings, games ratings, going to bed early, real play time (with me). Whether that would always have been the case, even without the attacks, I don't know. But I certainly want them to enjoy their time as kids before they see the real big bad world.
good watch that
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From: northamptonshire
it was my day off had been working flat out harvesting i woke up after a lay in turned the tv on and the tv showed a plane hitting the first tower at first i thought it was a film them i woke up abit more and relised it was the news
