# 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:** 17
**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, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/321 "2001-09-11T18:12:38Z")
No, it’s 10,000+ per tower, not 20,000. They said 20-25,000 in the towers during a regular business day. ---
**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, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/322 "2001-09-11T18:16:22Z")
50,000 people. Damn. That’s almost the entire population of Stillwater. Last I heard they were suspecting 10,000 dead in the buildings (including the Pentegon), another 1000 from the planes. I just can’t fathom those numbers in terms of people ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/323 "2001-09-11T18:18:18Z")
Nym, I am still hearing it’s 50,000 in both towers combined. Anyone hear about an attack on Camp David, too? There’s an AOL news link, but all it says it Camp David was attacked, no other info. ---
**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, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/324 "2001-09-11T18:23:05Z")
Ah, thanks **ArchiveGuy**. CNN just said there were 53 injured from the Pentagon attack in the DC hospital. ---
**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, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/325 "2001-09-11T18:24:52Z")
Re: the collapse – I’m not a structural engineer, but I’ve read a bunch about earthquake damage, and I’ve seen a few TV shows about blowing up buildings (so I’m pretty much an expert!). I don’t think that bombs were necessary to the collapse – once a critical number of the vertical supports were destroyed or damaged, there is no longer an ability for the top portion of the structure to support itself, and it collapses. The additional weight of the collapsed upper floors overwhelms the structure of the floors directly beneath the collapse, and on down the line, like vertical dominoes. The video of the second plane’s crash showed how massive the damage was to the entire floors around where it hit. I just hope to god that the second building had been evacuated before the second plane hit. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/326 "2001-09-11T18:24:57Z")
Supposedly a plane was shot down over Camp David, but I haven’t seen confirmation of that. I’ve also heard the rumor that the plane crash in PA was a deliberate ditching by the pilot. We’ll probably never know, but I’ve gotta believe that SOMETHING good has happened today. I’ll cling to that for a while… ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/327 "2001-09-11T18:25:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > \*\*Nym, I am still hearing it’s 50,000 in both towers combined. > > Anyone hear about an attack on Camp David, too? There’s an AOL news link, but all it says it Camp David was attacked, no other info. \*\* If what I hear is correct, and one of the planes crashed 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, that would be in the very, very relative vicinity of Camp David, but still pretty far away, AFAIK. Maybe the news wires are inferring too much here. ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/328 "2001-09-11T18:25:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rmariamp \* > \*\*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. \*\* NPR reports that damage to other NYC buildings are hampering rescue efforts. They fear (and maybe even expect) another nearby building will collapse soon. Other news: The section of the Pentagon that was hit was under renovation, and so probably had fewer people there than it would otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/329 "2001-09-11T18:27:39Z")
I know there’s a lot of info that is simply unknown at the moment, and a lot of rumors going around, so can I get some info to the best of peoples’ knowledge: 1. Was there a plane crash at Camp David? 2. I heard something about two planes in Cleveland. Was that true? 3. How many, if any, planes are still unaccounted for? And as an FYI, fake Nostradamus quotes are already circulating. Amazing how on the spot he always is, after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/330 "2001-09-11T18:29:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*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.) > \*\* Doubleclick’s main offices are in the Flatiron district, well north of the WTC. Also, I suspect the towers might have withstood _one_ loaded jet, but not two. Remember that they share a foundation. The second tower may have fallen only because the first one delivered such a fatal blow to that shared foundation. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/331 "2001-09-11T18:32:55Z")
My sister works in the Army section of the Pentagon. I spoke with her _very_ briefly - but it sounds as if the evacuation was pretty successful. I remember that she was near a section under renovation, which I assume is what got hit. I’ll post more when I hear more details from her. ---
**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/332 "2001-09-11T18:37:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Semp \* > \*\* Tony Blair just made some statements, and he looked very shaken. \*\* \*\* Tony Blair said that this was not just an attack on America, that it was rather an attack on every free and decent principle held dear by right thinking people and an assault on the sanctity of human life. America has borne the terrible brunt of this insidiuos dastardly action but the free world will unite behind you to ensure that this will not go unpunished. My hopes and fears and thoose of everyone I know are with you all in this terrible time and I urge whatever gods there are to miminise the hardship and the heartache ---
**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, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/333 "2001-09-11T18:43:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > 2) I heard something about two planes in Cleveland. Was that true? Bomb threats, planes evacuated, nothing major. ---
**Author:** ![Natural-J-Bankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Natural-J-Bankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natural-J-Bankie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/334 "2001-09-11T19:03:12Z")
My condolances and prayers for all the victims and thier families. I don’t really know what else to say. It feels like a really bad dream. I’m out here in LA. So far, LAX is still closed, and there’s some traffic in the area, but that’s it, thankfully. Work seems to continue like usual for us, but I don’t think I can get much done. I think I’ll go donate blood today after work. My family and I are all right. I’m happy to hear that **vix** and other dopers and thier family seem to be OK too. I hope we get more information soon, and take appropriate action against those responsible. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_The\_Younger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@Paul\_The\_Younger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_The_Younger)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/335 "2001-09-11T19:05:54Z")
Detroit tunnel and bridge to Windsor are reopened, but with heightened security. Bush has landed in Nebraska, SS saying that he isn’t safe in DC. I’d say get a spine and get back home where you’re needed, but that’s probably a rant, so I won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Natural-J-Bankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Natural-J-Bankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natural-J-Bankie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/336 "2001-09-11T19:10:43Z")
Excerpted From Yahoo News: \*Tuesday September 11 2:33 PM ET FAA Says All Domestic Flights Safe, Accounted For WASHINGTON (Reuters) - All U.S. commercial aircraft not involved in the three hijacking attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon (news - web sites) and a fourth crash in Pennsylvania, were safely on the ground Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.\* So hopefully this means the treat has subsided. ---
**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, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/337 "2001-09-11T19:11:56Z")
The facat that they were able to hijack four airplanes at one time shows what a joke our airport security is. ---
**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, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/338 "2001-09-11T19:31:28Z")
I don’t think so, seth… I think it demonstrates that people on all levels are corruptable. Something many are quick to forget, or never fully realize. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/339 "2001-09-11T19:32:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Paul The Younger \* > \*\*I’d say get a spine and get back home where you’re needed, but that’s probably a rant, so I won’t. \*\* I cannot believe that I am going to have to be the one to say this…believe me, it’s a little convuluted…but I think the last thing my country needs right now is a dead president (should any attacks continue). Plus, amongst all the chaos, I don’t know that his presence–which will require a lot of security, etc.–will aid or be noticed right now in any of our major cities. Tomorrow or Thursday, certainly, but just not necessary now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850/340 "2001-09-11T19:35:21Z")
CBC reports Canadian warplanes forced a Korean airliner to land in Whitehorse; the plane is being treated as hijacked. No word yet if it’s a genuine situation or if it was a precautionary move taken just because the plane did something wrong or was off course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center-plane-crash/80850.md?page=18)