On 9/11, why couldn't some of the people in the towers have been rescued from the roofs by helicopters?

Question

I've wondered this since 9/11, and I've even asked some of my professors and others to no avail. Yet, I am still curious to know why that was not an option for rescue.

Answer 1

too much smoke to see

Answer 2

The fire from the planes prevented anyone from floors below to exit upwards. The floors above the planes had some people survive (you might remember seeing them jump) but all aircraft was grounded. If I remember correctly, there was no helicopter landing site on the roofs of the towers, so there really wasn't any way to rescue during all the chaos - sadly, it would probably have been way to risky for the helicopter crews to chance it. As an EMT, I was on call that day and I vaguely remember that ALL flights were grounded, even Medevac.

Answer 3

Tower No.1 (North Tower)...floors 90 through 100 was
ravaged. When you look at the pictures of the North Tower you can understand better why helicopters would have been of no use. People above floor 100 died from smoke ventilation plus there was extreme heat.

Tower No.2 (South Tower)...floors 78 to 87 was ravaged.
Once again the smoke was to great for people above floor 87 to live.

Answer 4

I think the U.S. was just unprepared and the people on the rooftops could have been plucked up by helicopters, but life was complete chaos at that time for the victims as well as the rescuers and I think everyone just paniced, since they were surrounded by the surreal events of that morning. Remember the people jumping off the roof and out the windows, why?? How did they think they were escaping--falling 86 or so stories straight down? I just couldn't imagine.

Answer 5

Simple answer is for safety reasons almost all building lock roof access doors. No one was able to get the roof for rescue.

Add to that it would have been extremely dangerous with the thick smoke and heat from the fire which causes unpredictable wind gusts.

I'm certain helicopter pilots would have tried even with the dangerous conditions but video shows no one made it to the roof tops because the doors were locked.

Answer 6

I'm sure they would have tried if they could have. It may have had a lot to do with the fact that while the buildings were standing...it was too dangerous to send a helicopter in for fear that debris would fall and hit it...or that when there is THAT much fire, it creates one heck of an updraft. A helicopter may not have been able to fly into it with any control. Just guesses of course.

Answer 7

all these douch bags befor dont have a clue. now this is the part where you listen! it was due to the heat. have you ever made a fire at night and you see the little cynders flying up in the air? yeahhhhhhhh, thats the hot air rising up. multiply that by a million, now what is that big spinny thing on top of the copters doing? yeah thats right, pushing air. can you think of where this is leading too?? the air rising from the towers alone would have probably blown the copters into outerspace. you people are pathetic, oh and by the way. i am aeros[pace engineer at nasa, so you all can SUCK IT!!!!

Answer 8

I don't know if you noticed but when it was burning, the fire and smoke were going upwards which probably would have been difficult if at all impossible for a helicopter to land on top of the building.

Answer 9

Wow...if Nasa employs such arrogant people with such low tolerance for questions I think our moon shot is doomed from the get go. I hope you don't work for Nasa. But if you do, you obviously were in charge of the safety checks on the heat tiles and insulating foam.

Answer 10

Large amounts of smoke and confusion. IC structure likely did not have enough time or were killed before that became a possible solution. Mobilization may have been a factor as well/

Answer 11

There was too much smoke for them to see to get close to the building...plus, the buidings were knowingly unstable and the vibrations and winds coming from the whirling could have collapsed the buildings even faster.