The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

The Only Plane in the Sky (2019) is a work of nonfiction by Garrett M. Graff that compiles firsthand accounts of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks on the US. The book brings together the voices of more than 500 survivors, first responders, bystanders, and government officials to construct a comprehensive and immersive narrative of the events of 9/11, highlighting the terror, love, bravery, and grief that millions experienced that day.

This guide uses the 2019 e-book edition of Graff’s text.

Content Warning: Because the book and this guide explore terrorism, loss, and trauma, the text graphically describes violence, death, and profound pain.

Summary

On 9/11, NASA astronaut Frank Culbertson viewed the devastation unfolding in Manhattan from the International Space Station. He captured images of the plume of smoke emanating from World Trade Center (WTC) towers as they burned and eventually collapsed.

The day before 9/11, Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Chaplain Mychal Judge spoke at the rededication of a New York firehouse in the Bronx, reflecting on the varied days of firefighters and the hardship they experience in service of God. That evening, artist Monika Bravo recorded a storm rolling across Manhattan from the 91st floor of the WTC’s North Tower.