# World Trade Center Plane Crash **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2001, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850 "2001-09-11T13:03:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/301 "2001-09-11T17:28:40Z")
Just in case you haven’t been made aware, **vix** is okay!!! She was in the lobby of WTC2 when the plane hit the first building and was evacuated out. :thanking God!: ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/302 "2001-09-11T17:29:58Z")
The WTC towers were one of the most recognizable patrs of the NY skyline by the world and it was a huge concentration of people. It’s the financial center of the world. Whoever did it knew it would be very visible. And from a Guardian article posted on Bartcop" > [@](#): > > The World Trade Centre has been targeted before, and was the scene of a massive van bomb that killed several people in February 1993. Prof Rogers said: “Since it is such a prestige building and has been attacked before, the symbolism is very strong. It suggests a well-organised paramilitary group is involved seeking to inflict great financial and psychological harm on the US. The World Trade Centre is hugely symbolic. It is a giant financial complex with great psychological and political prestige.” ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/303 "2001-09-11T17:32:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GingerOfTheNorth \* > \*\ ***Cartooniverse** is in Manhattan this week, doing some filming. He called me on Sunday night from the west side highway. I have been trying for most of the morning to reach him and can not. If anyone hears from him, please let me know. \*\* He was shooting a few blocks from the WTC and has been in touch with family since the planes crashed. He was going to get EMT stuff from the van and volunteer EMT services last I heard. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/304 "2001-09-11T17:32:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BunnyGirl \* > \*\*Just in case you haven’t been made aware, **vix** is okay!!! > > She was in the lobby of WTC2 when the plane hit the first building and was evacuated out. > > :thanking God!: \*\* That _is_ good news! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/305 "2001-09-11T17:33:08Z")
I just got off the phone with my local Red Cross. They said that they are swamped. They are asking people to call back later in the week. They will be needing blood for a couple of months. So, please, give them a couple of days to get a grip on things, and give blood the next several times that you can. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/306 "2001-09-11T17:34:40Z")
I think the largest tenant is tsill the Port Authoruty, that runs the docks and several bridges and tunnels. Why the TC? Prominence - it’s the tallest building, out in the open, unlike the EMpire state, and by the water. Eris - that 25000 was PER TOWER. More like 40-50K in the building. ---
**Author:** ![Oicu812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f475e1/32.png) [@Oicu812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oicu812)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/307 "2001-09-11T17:37:20Z")
What better “political agenda” than the total disruption of trade in the U.S. and abroad? Those two buildings controlled far more of our economy than anyone wants to admit. ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/308 "2001-09-11T17:38:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolfman \* > \*\*From my time at University of Michigan I have a bunch of Arabic friends who live in Dearborn, and any time something like this happens I get scared to death for my friends that Dearborn will be the target of stupid mindless anger because of its large Arabic community. Are there any Detroit area people around? How are things there. I can’t get crap for news. \*\* Most of downtown Detroit is shut down. Every high-rise office building in town has been evacuated. All government (local, state and federal) agencies have sent home their workers for the day. GM and Chrysler HQ’s have shut down. Alot of the schools have shut down too. The tunnel to Canada is shut down. The bridge to Canada is still open, but on heightened alert. Several Detroit-area Arabic civic leaders have released statements condemning the attack. The air force base just north of town is on alert. There was a report of a “suspicious package” found outside of The Guardian building, but it is unknown what has become of that. Basically it is the same situation here as it is in every other major city in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/309 "2001-09-11T17:39:33Z")
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! of course everything is still horrible but it’s just so thrilling to hear that at least one of our own who was in danger is out of it. i’m crying again for joy and i barely know vix. i’m so relieved. ---
**Author:** ![Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dec6dc/32.png) [@Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Friday)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/310 "2001-09-11T17:41:58Z")
Red Cross 1-800-448-3543 ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/311 "2001-09-11T17:42:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arden Ranger \* > \*\*The WTC towers were one of the most recognizable patrs of the NY skyline by the world and it was a huge concentration of people. It’s the financial center of the world. Whoever did it knew it would be very visible. \*\* I’m sure the collapse of the towers exceeds their wildest expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/312 "2001-09-11T17:51:07Z")
I heard a guy on the radio this morning. He said that some time ago he talked to one of the designers of the WTC. The designer told this guy that the WTC was designed to survive a direct impact from a 707. Unfortunately, hte designer was wrong. I have a friend who works for Doubleclick in NYC. I was able to leave a VM for her, so I’m sure her building is okay. (I don’t know where the office is.) Nobody here feels like working. No one can concentrate. I want to go home. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/313 "2001-09-11T17:51:28Z")
Actually, I was impressed at how localized the damage was. Horrific, but localized. In the footage, you can see the WTC collapsing almost straight down into its plaza yet the World Financial Center (HQ of Sheason Lehman and other large banking industries) which is literally only a few feet away is undamaged. I think they might have been hoping for the building to “tip over” and crush other buildings as they fell. ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/314 "2001-09-11T17:56:18Z")
There are 50 flights still in the air, with 2 international flights that have yet to respond. F16s form the US Air Force has been instructed to shoot down flights in a no fly zone over NYC There is a rumor abound that the pittsburgh flight was inbound to the capitol building or white house. The pilot, rather than crash into a building, ditched it in the ground The guy is a hero. My god…the world will never be the same ---
**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/315 "2001-09-11T17:57:48Z")
Chicago is shut down as well. The Merc and Board of Trade, all the restaurants and such surrounding them. Sears Tower, the John Hancock… I suppose it’s much the same everywhere right now. I’m really scared. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/316 "2001-09-11T17:58:04Z")
Any structural engineers out there that could comment on the collapse? I mean, would it have taken additional bombs in the sub-structure to have brought down the towers or would the plane crashes have been enough? My vote is for additional bombs in the sub-structures. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/317 "2001-09-11T18:03:25Z")
Oh shit, 25K _per tower?_ God, could they have evacuated than many people in the 15 minutes between crashes? I just got a report from a coworker that Boston was evacuated. But wait… another just said the trains were running and there was no general evac (I wouldn’t see why there would be). America-- shit, the western hemisphere-- has never dealt with terrorist attacks like this before. I am both scared and hopeful that this is not a sign of things to come. I enjoy the freedoms the US has… but the paranoia is high too. I am so completely dumbfounded by all this. A pox on whoever is responsible… Mercutio couldn’t have had more rage. (not the poster, of course, but the romeo and juliet character) God damn it. A direct attack on tens of thousands of people. How could any creature capable of emotions authorize or plan for such a thing? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/318 "2001-09-11T18:05:45Z")
Passengers: 233 Flight Attendants: 25 Pilots: 8 Compiled (courtesy of [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010911/aponline132046_000.htm)) from AA 11 & 77 and UA 93 & 175. Probably weeks to account for all the other innocents. Tremendously sad. ☹ Maybe a black box or two (in DC or PA) can shed some light on how this tragedy could happen. ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/319 "2001-09-11T18:06:02Z")
Thank God for the BBC. Watching CNN was informative, but the Beeb gave me the idea that we aren’t alone in feeling like victims in the attack. Tony Blair just made some statements, and he looked very shaken. My sister’s in London at a trade show, and she called my mother and told her that international attendees were steering clear of Americans, just to be sure. I have the feeling the responsible parties are going to be wishing they hadn’t green lighted the thing in the first place. **America is not the WTC. We’re still here. And we’ll be seeing you soon.** ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/320 "2001-09-11T18:09:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BunnyGirl \* > \*\*Any structural engineers out there that could comment on the collapse? > > I mean, would it have taken additional bombs in the sub-structure to have brought down the towers or would the plane crashes have been enough? > > My vote is for additional bombs in the sub-structures. \*\* Shoot. Hope this isn’t a double post. Anyway, I started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86499) over in GQ asking the same thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850.md?page=17)