What if the towers hypothetically were able to be put out before collapsing and while damaged, they would still be otherwise intact?
Or maybe the plane(s) make impact closer to the top of the buildings, so that the rest of the structure remains intact?The only way they're still standing is if the planes don't hit or at most clip them with a wingtip and then crash elsewhere. Once the planes hit and the fuel began to burn, the towers were coming down. The steel supports would have been too weakened to hold the building up after that.
Or maybe the plane(s) make impact closer to the top of the buildings, so that the rest of the structure remains intact?
Not nesserally. I remember watching a documentary on why the towers collapsed on PBS years ago (so long ago I can't remember all the details). In it, they said that for cost reasons, just before construction there was a more or less last minute change with the kind of flame retardant used on the steal beams in the floor or something like that. The original plan called for something that was more expensive then what was actually used. The documentary said that had they stuck to the original plan, the towers would have had a better chance of remaining standing long enough for the fire to be put out. If you want to create a timeline where the towers survive the attack, I think the point of departure from our timeline would have to be before construction started.The only way they're still standing is if the planes don't hit or at most clip them with a wingtip and then crash elsewhere. Once the planes hit and the fuel began to burn, the towers were coming down. The steel supports would have been too weakened to hold the building up after that.
Not nesserally. I remember watching a documentary on why the towers collapsed on PBS years ago (so long ago I can't remember all the details). In it, they said that for cost reasons, just before construction there was a more or less last minute change with the kind of flame retardant used on the steal beams in the floor or something like that. The original plan called for something that was more expensive then what was actually used. The documentary said that had they stuck to the original plan, the towers would have had a better chance of remaining standing long enough for the fire to be put out. If you want to create a timeline where the towers survive the attack, I think the point of departure from our timeline would have to be before construction started.
So the way to save the Twin Towers is to make it so that jet fuel can't melt steel beams?
The towers are going to be utterly gutted by the fire and other damage, though. But with hundreds dead in the terrorist attack, I think a lot of Americans would agree the towers should be repaired.
So the way to save the Twin Towers is to make it so that jet fuel can't melt steel beams?
The towers are going to be utterly gutted by the fire and other damage, though. But with hundreds dead in the terrorist attack, I think a lot of Americans would agree the towers should be repaired.
Rescuers eventually make it to the top of the towers and are able to put the fires out after several days. Only about 800 people would'be been killed in the attacks overall without the collapse. There is a chance rescue of the top floors could be done by helicopter as well. The buildings may not be demolished, but heavily retrofitted. Billions will be spent on the repair process which will take several years. A memorial is installed in renovated parts of the building later on.
Makes no difference in the response. It's still a mass casualty attack (people on the planes and upper floors). Only difference is we don't lose the first responders.
Well, looking at the events, I'd say that if the Towers remained standing somehow, they'd be seen as proud act of American defiance against Islamic Terrorism. The towers would be even more famous as a result, and security would increase around them. If they're damaged, then... they'd probably not be removed and left with the scars or at least sort of cleaned up as a monument to Freedom and Democracy. Or at least that's how they'd see it.