At 8:46AM in New York City, American Airlines Flight 11, travelling from Boston to Los Angeles crashed into One World Trade Centre, the North Tower of the famous Twin Towers. It had been hijacked by terrorists around half an hour before. At 8:51AM, ATN started broadcasting its first report on the situation...
NEWSCASTER: Hello, this is ATN News we wish to interrupt our normal programming to bring you these images from New York City.
NEWSCASTER: It appears that a passenger, commercial jet hit the North Tower, causing a large fireball. It is unknown what caused this accident but it is clear many lives have been lost and many more are at risk. We can here down below fire engines already racing to the scene of the disaster. The plane hit the tower about 5 minutes ago. For new viewers, a plane has struck the North Tower of the World Trade Centre. We are going to the ground now to talk to witnesses.
The scene switches to a view of the North Tower from about a kilometre away. The ground crew have started interviewing a businessman.
INTERVIEWER: Did you see what happened?
BUSINESSMAN: Yeah, it was what appeared to be a passenger plane just flew over us, right into the tower.
INTERVIEWER: How was the plane flying?
BUSINESSMAN: It was flying round about in a straight line and was slowly descending. We did't see much - it just happened so fast.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you for that.
BUSINESSMAN: No problem.
The scene returns to the view of the North Tower from the helicopter
NEWSCASTER: This obviously clearly something terrible has just happened here, this could be a major fire and rescue operation at the tower. We are now getting a call from an ATN employee who was just a few blocks from the Towers and saw this whole incident begin. What did you see?
FIRST CALLER: Well, I was getting a coffee and outside I heard the whistling noise that you hear when jet planes are flying low. I thought that was very unusual, as planes never fly over New York at such low altitudes. I stepped outside as I saw the plane slam into the north tower, igniting a huge explosion and throwing debris in all directions. Everyone on the street were shouting and people are coming out of their buildings or just poking their heads out of windows, seeing what was happening.
NEWSCASTER: Did you see how the plane was flying, or what airline or type it was?
FIRST CALLER: It appeared to fly straight in while making a descent. It also looked like a plane that would be used in an internal flight, but definitely a long range one. I couldn't see very well, it all happened so fast, there was no time to react.
NEWSCASTER: Has the debris caused any other damage?
FIRST CALLER: I don't know, I can only see the towers over buildings.
NEWSCASTER: So the plane looked like it hit the Trade Centre as it was gradually descending, correct?
FIRST CALLER: Yes.
NEWSCASTER: Did it look like it was deliberately flown in or was it like, say, the pilot had a heart attack and collapsed on the controls or something like that?
FIRST CALLER: Impossible to say. It appeared to go in on a straight line, though.
NEWSCASTER: Thank you for your call.
The first call ends. The next few minutes are spent repeating information revealed before to new viewers on the channel. At about 9:02AM another call is received.
NEWSCASTER: OK, on the line we have another caller from the North Tower itself, who was on the 4th floor when the plane struck. Correct?
SECOND CALLER: Yes, indeed.
NEWSCASTER: What was it like to be in the towers?
SECOND CALLER: My god, it was terrifying. I was in my office and did't see the plane coming. I then heard a huge explosion coming upstairs. The whole building seemed to buckle like it moved a few feet, or like an earthquake had happened or something. Outside I could see debris, like concrete or steel or papers, some burning some not. I left my desk and ran to the stairs which I raced down. I then exited the building from the lobby. Dust and tiny fragments were raining down on me, I should've ran but... OH MY GOD!
At that moment (9:03AM), United Airlines Flight 175, another Boston to Los Angeles flight, which had been hijacked a few minutes before American flight 11 hit the north tower, crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Centre. Viewers of ATN could clearly see United 175 come into the screen from the left. It was also clear it was a deliberate crash, as the plane could clearly be seen banking towards the tower.
NEWSCASTER: Oh dear, this is a second plane that has just gone into the south tower on what is now appearing to be a planned, co-ordinated, deliberate attack. Are you OK?
SECOND CALLER: Yes, I am, I was only in the plaza then as the second plane hit.
NEWSCASTER: As I said, this looks to be something deliberate.
At that moment, an unknown employee tells the newscaster that a plane has been sighted heading for New York.
NEWSCASTER: Oh dear, there are reports a third plane is over the New York area. That is all the information we have now.
The second call is ended.
NEWSCASTER: Yes, for new viewers two planes have hit both the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in what looks to be a terrorist attack the likes of which has never been seen before, and a third plane maybe on its way. The first plane hit at around 8:46AM, and just a few minutes ago a second plane has gone in.
The third plane draws closer.
NEWSCASTER: In fact, we can now see the third plane in the distance here, and it appears to be... heading for Manhattan.
The coverage goes silent for a few minutes as the cameras retract to show a long shot of the two towers ablaze. Then the plane draws even closer.
NEWSCASTER: It's coming closer...
EMPLOYEE IN THE BACKGROUND: DEAR GOD, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
At 9:07AM, Delta Airlines Flight 1989, which was hijacked around half an hour earlier, crashes into the Empire State Building.
NEWSCASTER: That's right viewers, a third plane has crashed into the Empire State Building. This is not a two plane attack, this is a third and more hijacked planes could still be in the skies...