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.

On the morning of 9/11, New Yorkers commented on the beauty of the clear, crisp morning. Many later recalled the intensely blue sky. At three airports (Logan International in Boston, Newark International in New Jersey, and Dulles International in Washington, DC), 17 hijackers boarded four planes. Two hijackers, including the primary one boarding American Airlines Flight 11 (destined for the WTC’s North Tower), Mohamed Atta, almost missed their flight. The knives they carried raised no security concerns, as they were allowed in airplane carry-on luggage at that time.

Flight attendant Betty Ong called the airline’s reservation line to say that Flight 11 had been hijacked. At 8:46 am, the plane crashed into the WTC’s North Tower, instantly killing hundreds, including all passengers and crew members on the plane and likely most people on floors 93-99, where the plane entered the building; those on higher floors were trapped and had no way down. The explosion and jet fuel immediately started a massive fire in the building.

First responders rushed to the WTC; firefighters immediately began climbing the stairs. On ground level, bystanders were appalled to see people begin to jump or fall from the WTC’s upper stories. Family members received calls from loved ones who were struggling in increasing heat and smoke as the fire intensified. North Tower occupants who could walk began to evacuate via the fire stairs (the elevators were not operational). In the South Tower, some began to evacuate, but others were assured that they should stay where they were.

Meanwhile, United Airlines Flight 175 called traffic control to pass along a strange transmission overheard from Flight 11, which sounded like “everyone stay in your seats” (113). Flight 175 wasn’t heard from again. Family members received calls and recorded messages from loved ones aboard Flight 175 that the plane had been hijacked. It crashed into floors 77-85 of the WTC’s South Tower at 9:03 am. As in the North Tower, hundreds were instantly killed in the tower, as were all the plane’s passengers and crew. Many who watched live televised footage of the North Tower burning also saw the plane hit the South Tower in real time. In response to the threat, the US military launched jets above Washington, DC.

Passengers on American Airlines Flight 77 contacted family members to tell them that their plane had been hijacked. It crashed into the west wall of the Pentagon in Washington, DC. More than 100 people in the Pentagon were instantly killed, as were all the plane’s passengers and crew. Those on surrounding floors tried to flee the building, but many were engulfed in fire and died. Others escaped but were badly injured. No one in the vicinity of the fire after 30 minutes was recovered alive.

At the WTC site, bystanders were shocked when the South Tower collapsed in a “pancake” configuration at 9:59 am: It fell in on itself, killing thousands of civilians and first responders. First responders inside the North Tower received orders to evacuate immediately. Some began to do so but were not quick enough, while others—especially firefighters—insisted on remaining with injured individuals or helping them down the fire escape stairs. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 am. Dust and smoke blanketed Lower Manhattan with hurricane-like velocity. Debris rained down on surrounding streets and killed some who escaped the collapses. People fled the city center; Coast Guard and civilian boats arrived at Battery Park to evacuate people, and others walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Meanwhile, United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked. Passengers on the plane learned from family members about the fate of the other three hijacked planes; they resolved to retake the plane from the hijackers to prevent another terrorist attack. The plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Emergency workers rushed to the scene but realized that no one could have survived the impact; the plane left a smoking hole in the ground from the speed at which it crashed. Only small fragments of bodies remained of the passengers and crew. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began its investigation in the area.

President Bush aired a statement from Barksdale Air Force Base, vowing that those responsible for the attacks would be found. Air Force One took him to Offutt Air Force Base, accompanied by fighter jets, and he was allowed to return to Washington, DC, that evening only after all flights had been grounded and the attack was considered over. Members of Congress sheltered in bunkers; the presidential team spent most of the next day at the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) bunker of the White House.

In Manhattan, hospitals prepared for an immense crisis, readying gurneys and beds, and doctors and nurses waited. Tragically, only a trickle of patients arrived.

Congress members returned to the Capitol, delivered an address on the White House stairs, and spontaneously sang “God Bless America.” President Bush spoke when he returned to Washington, DC, referring to the strength of the American people, condemning the cowardly and violent attacks, and again vowing to find those responsible and deliver justice. Meanwhile, firefighters continued working to douse the fire at the Pentagon, which still burned hotly because of the jet fuel. At the WTC, emergency workers began navigating the acres of wreckage, searching for survivors. A few were recovered from the partially intact remains of Stairwell B in the North Tower; the last survivor found in the wreckage was Genelle Guzzman, 27 hours after the collapse.

In the days, weeks, and years after the attacks, survivors, victims’ families, and bystanders struggled to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy. Many experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Families often never knew the circumstances of their loved ones’ final moments. The Bush administration launched a global war on terror, initiating a war in Afghanistan and another in Iraq. In 2011, US Navy Seals apprehended and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. President Barack Obama told the American people that justice had been served on behalf of the thousands who lost their lives.