102 Minutes By Kevin Flynn And Jim Dwyer

Roughly 2,753 people were killed on September 11, 2001, by terrorists who overtook commercial airplanes (Jones). The cause of these thousands of deaths were a series of attacks in New York City by an Islamic terrorist group, Al-Qaeda. However, there are still many questions about what actually happened the morning of September 11, 2001. As there are many different conspiracy theories about what happened that day, 9/11 was an attack which began with Al- Qaeda hi-jacking airplanes, but ended with more questions than answers. Many questions still remain about the authenticity of cell phone calls from inside the planes, why air defense was told to “stand down,” and how three buildings imploded as the result of two buildings being struck by airplanes.

During 9/11 a tragic event happened. Two planes were hijacked and crashed into the twin towers on a beautiful Tuesday. Everyone was surprised and shocked about what had happened on such a beautiful day in Manhattan. Now from the perspective of what was occurring inside the building, it was obvious people were unaware of what was happening. After a plane crashed into the first tower, people at the bottom floor got out of the building. In the other tower, some people were confused about what was going on. After someone came onto the intercom and told everyone in the building they were safe, and that everything was going to be fine, they told everyone on the bottom floor to go back up the building but, some others still remained

Michael Wright was in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 at 8:48 in the morning. He is an account executive. Wright was a thirty-year-old man who witnessed the crash at the tower. It was Tuesday morning when Wright and his coworkers felt an “earthquake” when they were inside the men’s room. He then opened the door and was surprised by the fire gushing into the building. From there he tried to evacuate and get to a safe place if possible. Wright’s information was reported in Esquire News “My Escape From the 81st Floor of the World Trade Center”. The following is a narrative of what Wright ‘s day on September 11, 2001 could have been. He was in a good mood when this tragic event happened.

At 9:12 on Flight 77, staff and passengers contacted their family and friends and air traffic control that the plane had been hijacked. Approximately at 9:36, Secret Service agents evacuate the White House employees to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. The reason they evacuated the White House is because the authorities were expecting that another hijacked plane was going to attack either the White House or the Capitol (9/11 MEMORIAL - September 11 Attack Timeline, pages 20, 22-23). At 9:37, hijackers crash Flight 77 into the Pentagon’s western facade, killing the fifty-nine on board the plane and one hundred twenty-five military and civilian personnel inside the Pentagon. This had been the third attack on the United States within fifty-one minute. To help the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) find the hijacked planes, they ground all flights over, or bound for, the continental United States. At approximately 9:59, after burning for a total of fifty-nine minutes, the South Tower collapses within ten seconds killing many rescue workers and responders (9/11 MEMORIAL - September 11 Attacks Timeline, pages 24-25,28). Around 10:15, the damaged section of the Pentagon’s outermost offices, known as the E ring, collapses. No on was injured. At 10:28, the North Tower collapses after burning for one hundred two minutes, killing about 1,400 people in the building and the surrounding area (9/11 MEMORIAL - September 11 Attack Timeline,

When I turned around to see the TV, I realized it was happening outside the window. Everyone sat in silence until a voice came over the intercom saying “we need to evacuate tower 2 but to not take the elevator.” We rushed to the stair way. It was crowding with people and was as hot as a sauna and about as humid as one too. The people were all trying to scurry down the stairs. Everyone had fear in her eyes and were trying to call their loved ones. People were on the phone trying to talk but kept shuddering because they were trying to hold back tears. All I could think about was the fact that I almost didn’t come to work today because of my allergy appointment. The humid, dusty air didn’t help

Terrorist attacks have increased over the last twenty years, but one of the most remembered is the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. It happened on September 11, 2001; and is commonly referred to as 9/11. Americans grow up learning details about 9/11; but rarely do we learn about a personal experience. In Adam Mayblum’s email “The Price We Pay,” he tells the story of what happened to him, and others around him on the day of September 11, 2001. Mayblum explains in paragraph ten “If you want to kill us, leave us alone because we will do it by ourselves. If you want to make us stronger, attack and we unite.” He made an excellent point with that statement, because he is right. He provides us with imagery, thoughts on terrorism, and strong use of emotions throughout the story that brings us a very well written narrative.

It’s crazy how something as small as someone’s beliefs can cause one of the biggest tragedies worldwide. All it took was more than a dozen terrorist, two planes, and a well thought out plan to create the catastrophe we call the 9/11 attack but they call a tremendous heroic event. This was simply an act of being at the right place at the wrong time. 9/11 could be seen all the way in space but was felt by the people in the smallest towns to enormous cities. Although the crashes on 9/11 happened in the amount 102 minutes the aftermath lasted about 99 days yet will never be forgotten among everyone everywhere. Those were truly 102 minutes that shook the world and for some it will never stop shaking.

In the Book 102 Minutes Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn wrote about the time that elapsed before and during the unforgettable tragedy on September 11th. Each chapter of 102 Minutes was at least one minute, and in those minute the reader was provided with information about the attacks as well as the stories of workers and heroes. The authors lead the readers up to the horrible happening by giving us stories about how people led their day-to-day lives, then gradually shift to panic and intensity. They were able to accomplish this due to interviews, first-hand accounts, radio and 9-11 phone transcripts, cell phone messages, e-mails, and official reports. This led to a very detailed book about the workers inside The World Trade Centers and the heroes of September 11th. For example Dianne Defontes, a main receptionist for a major law firm, in her regular routine of unlocking the doors was

The World Trade Center (WTC) held fairly high regard throughout New York as a structurally sound building, but the authors of 102 Minutes beg to differ on this opinion. They use various diagrams and statistics of the incredible impact and destruction the planes caused to the building, arguments against the poor architectural design and support of the towers, and periodic timestamps to make claims and factual statements about the events that occurred. The timestamps serve as a means of the authors building suspense in their audience, deepening uncertainty in the audience which intends to move them to read further and discover the office laborers’ fates. Moments like “At 9:19… we’re trapped… there’s smoke coming in. I don’t know what’s happening”(102 Minutes 186) and when Assistant Chief Callan“stood

On Sept. 11, 2001, A date that will live in infamy for Americans, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. At 8:48 a.m. flight 11 crashed into the north tower. As it continued to burn a second plane flight 175 carrying 65 people crashed into the south tower around 9:05 a.m.. as smoke and debris fill the air in New York City after one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Police officers and rescue workers on the disaster scene in New York are covered in Ash that was two to three inches deep in places. People wandered dazed and terrified, Several firefighters coated with dust sat on the ground gasping for breath. One top fire official was asked if both towers had completely collapsed: "You

As a result of the attacks, more than 3,000 people were killed, including 343 New York City firefighters. 23 New York City police officers killed, 37 Port Authority police officers killed, and thousands treated for injuries – these are other tragic happenings on the day of the attacks. (SS #9). (“9/11 Attacks,” 2010.) The victims of the attacks ranged in age from two years to 85 years, with about 80% of those being men. Only six people who were in the World Trade Center towers when they collapsed arrived. The 19 terrorists who carried out the attacks also

The 9/11 Phone Call WARNING – READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED FOR THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON TRUE EVENTS. 9/11, the four word combination everyone dreads. Many people had died, during this event... which just adds to the tragedy. In this story, you will read a 911 cal from fictional characters. However, at the bottom of this story, the shortened 911 call is there for you too read. You may begin... The plane just crashed, a girl from the north tower calls... 911- This is 911, what is your emergency? Melissa Harper – Hello? Please, please help us! W-we are stuck! 911- Where are you? Melissa Harper – We are in the twin towers- yelps – I-I 'm scared! The girl starts to cry... 911- Alright what is your name? Melissa Harper – Melissa! M-Melissa Harper! 911- You will be ok... what is the phone number you are calling from? Melissa Harper – 441... 911- ok... Melissa Harper – 2623...

Throughout the novel, “102 Minutes” by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, a common tone is produced about the severity of the destruction of the World Trade Center. A neutral attitude is used when describing the events on the morning of September 11th. When narrating over the tragedies that took place, the authors use specific word choice and real-life examples to display the twin towers collapsing and the stress, fear, and panic being felt throughout Lower Manhattan. For example, Dwyer and Flynn write, “As easily as the roaring jet had knifed through the steel face of the tower, smoke now relentlessly, swiftly, seeped into the top of the building, finding paths around the concrete floors, emerging in billowing, ghastly clouds” (Dwyer and Flynn 37).

September 11, 2001, millions of New Yorkers and American citizens woke up and started their day, unprepared and unaware for the catastrophic attack that would be taking place in just a few short hours. At 8:46 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. The impact killed all of the passengers and crew as well as hundreds inside the building. At 9:03 a.m., a second plane, Flight 175, crashed into the corner of the South Tower killing passenger, crew, and workers who worked on floors seventy-five to eighty-three. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. killing approximately 185 individuals (History.com Staff). Because of the damaged to the support system, fires, and impact at extremely fast speed, the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. (Lipton and Glanz). Having heard about the acts of terrorism that had just taken place in New York and Washington, D.C., a group of passengers drove their plane, Flight 93, into a Pennsylvania field killing everyone on board but possibly saving hundreds of other lives in the process. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. 102 minutes after being struck (History.com Staff). On September 11, 2001, almost twelve hundred people were wounded or killed by “coordinated suicide attempts” by Al Qaeda terrorists. In result to the four airplanes being hijacked and used for premediated reasons, the United States government instituted new regulations for entering the country and airport security as well as expounded on systems already in place.

News outlets interviewed people who had escaped people who had escaped the terror and the people who lost loved ones. History.com states,” ... Television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767–United Airlines Flight 175–appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center and sliced into the south tower near the 60th floor. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and the streets below.” September 11th was a time of