Why couldn't some victims have been rescued by helicopters via the roof of the towers, or an "abseiling-type" lifeline fed from a nearby high building? Please, this is not intended as a criticism of any kind on the incredibly brave and selfless heros of that day, just a thought that has haunted me since then.
2006-09-11 23:42:08 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
The people who said that the doors to the roof were locked are correct. From http://www.ainonline.com/issues/12_01/12_01_rescuesquabblepg74.htm
No Way Out
These doors were locked by order of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), owner of the Trade Center. They were locked in part because of concerns about suicides, daredevil stunts and possible theft or vandalism of the millions of dollars worth of broadcasting equipment on the roof. Locking the doors also effectively barred any possibility of a rooftop rescue.
Authorization and the means to unlock those heavy steel doors came from a security center located on the 22nd floor. But the security center wasn’t able to help. Falling debris knocked it out almost as soon as the first airliner hit the tower.
According to sources within the city government and emergency agencies, there was another reason the doors were locked: the highly publicized turf wars the New York police and fire departments have been fighting for years. Barred by the city decades ago from operating any of its own helicopters, fire department higher-ups had been incensed by the police-led Trade Center rescues in 1993, decrying them as dangerous, unnecessary grandstanding.
While an official spokesman for the NYPD, deputy commissioner Thomas Antenen, described the controversy as “moot,” maintaining that billowing smoke from the fires below completely obscured the rooftop rescue landing area, Semendinger steadfastly maintains that the wind that morning left a corner of the rooftop relatively clear of smoke and that recovery of at least a few dozen people could have been possible.
A PANYNJ spokesman defended the agency’s position, claiming that “the people above the fire were trapped.” PANYNJ’s overall safety doctrine is to evacuate high rises by moving the people who can be moved down stairwells and away from the danger areas quickly. Current estimates are that some 25,000 people got out of the towers that way and lived.
As for those trapped above the fire? Sadly, according to accounts of many cellphone transmissions received from those trapped in the towers on that hauntingly beautiful late- summer morning, many who were to become victims of the Trade Center collapse did call loved ones to say that they were heading for the roof. While disagreements on the accessibility of landing space on the North Tower persist, all the parties involved agree that South Tower helicopter access was impossible. Any hope of landing there was ruled out by the thick, choking smoke billowing up from the stricken floors of both towers.
2006-09-12 01:01:52 · answer #1 · answered by jersey girl 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The doors leading to the roof were kept locked after the WTC bombing in 1993. The WTC buildings were 1/4mi. high. There are no other buildings close enough or tall enough to run a cable between them. Also, there would have not been enough time to rescue people with a cable system.
And don't get confused by the answers you get about smoke and fire. If they carefully watch the footage, they would see that the fire and smoke were at least 20 stories or 200ft. below the roof. There was also wind blowing the smoke almost horizontal. Also, there were helicopters flying above the towers trying to assess the situation. If you came in on the upwind side of the buildings, you could have rescued people without the interference of smoke. You also don't have to "land" to perform rescues. They can lower baskets by cable and winch people up. But like I said before, the doors were locked after 1993. Also, people don't realize that the roof was never intended for just anybody to use. It has no observation deck like some people think.
2006-09-13 03:43:55 · answer #2 · answered by lisa s 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heat, smoke, antennas everything else on the roof. Helicopters would have been crashing and making horrible even worse. Remember most helicopters would have only been able to take 4-6 people at a time some not that many. No buildings tall enough for lifelines to work. God bless the victims , the survivors, and the hero's of 9/11,
2006-09-12 07:07:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
while i don't know for sure, i had heard that all the entrances/doors/hatches to the roofs of the buildings are kept locked, and you cannot get on the roof. say you could get on the roof, there are a TON of antennas/wires atop large buildings, making an extraction very difficult in ideal conditions. now factor in the very strongs winds and gusts at 1,500 ft, and the smoke and heat from the fires below, and u have an almost impossible task.
i am not sure about the lifeline, but just the thought brings up a million questions...i'll leave that one for someone else
2006-09-12 06:48:48 · answer #4 · answered by dmzz 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many things mainly organisational and logistical issues. The technical issues of flying a helicopter over a burning building would be among othes: Turbulence (747s suffer from turbulence from warm air pockets (only a few degrees different from other ambient air)) Imagine the temperature difference caused by a burning building, and the compartive size of a helicopter. Smoke would not only impare pilots vision (InfaRed wouldn’t be a great help due to the intense heat comming from the buildings) and breathing, but the Helicopters breathing as well, there needs to be a degree of clean air for the fuel to burn.
2006-09-12 07:03:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think its hard to evacuate about 40,000 people in helicopters.
The doors leading to the roof were kept locked after the WTC bombing in 1998. The WTC buildings were 1/4mi. high. There are no other buildings close enough or tall enough to run a cable between them. Also, there would have not been enough time to rescue people with a cable system
2006-09-12 06:59:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
No one expected the towers to come down, and I believed the firefighters would have time to deal with it and rescue those stranded above.
Some large buildings now have evacuation plans for such events happening again. Small parachutes have been tested as one option as Base jumpers seem to have been able to do it. Yes it's not a perfect solution but better than jumping without one as many did on that day.
2006-09-12 06:56:58 · answer #7 · answered by 'Dr Greene' 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They say the helicopters could not do roof rescues because of the fires. To me, if one is going to contruct buildings that size, they better have all scenarios in mind to get anyone, out of anywhere, at any time.
2006-09-12 06:50:18 · answer #8 · answered by St♥rmy Skye 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Im a crew chief on the ch 53 supper stallin USMC helo. I dont think it would have helped at all mostly because of the smoke. Visibility was very poor. I also think that the rotor wash or the wind forced down from the blades would have just strengthend the fire and made it worse.
2006-09-12 06:45:06 · answer #9 · answered by dave d 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There is a video my brother showed me the other day that is really intresting and I think people need to watch it... if people think it is boring then skip forward to the good part... go to google type in 911 Cover up and click on the first link; Google Video- 911 Cover Up
Oh and for the people that say the building melted... there is no way, the building didn't burn long enough for it "to melt" there have been other buildings that have been on fire for LONG periods of time and never crashed to the ground! Do the chemistry!!! How hot does steel have to be before it completly melts and makes a whole building crash to the ground?
2006-09-12 06:52:35 · answer #10 · answered by M~Lyna 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋