Excerpts Of Twin Towers' 911 Calls

The following are excerpts from conversations between New York City emergency dispatchers and 911 callers who were in or near the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Voices of callers were extracted from tapes released by New York City officials Friday, such that only the voices of 911 dispatchers are heard.

8:49 a.m.:
Operator: World Trade Center just blew up.

2nd Operator:: The whole center?

Operator: Yeah, that's what they said.

2nd Operator: My God, my God. They said an airplane crashed over here, AC. Oh, Lord. This makes me feel so bad, I can't take it. Once again, poor babies.

8:58 a.m.: "He jumped out which window, which floor? Do you know?"

9 a.m.: "OK, if you feel your life is in danger do what you must do. I can't give you any more advice than that."

9:05 a.m.:
Operator: She states on the northwest side there's a women hanging from — an unidentified person hanging from the top of the building.

2nd Operator: I know. We're going through the same thing here.

Operator: Yeah, I can imagine. I can only imagine. It's chaos here.

2nd Operator: Uh-huh. It's another World Trade all over again. Okay. Um. I guess I can put it in, but I'm pretty much sure we have more than enough ambulances going to the scene already. I'm pretty sure somebody is going to let them know.

9:09 a.m.: "They're saying it might be a terrorist attack. It would have to be, because what are the odds of two planes crashing into the same building, OK? ... OK. I can't believe this. It's got to be — it's got to be hell."

9:10 a.m.: "I've got a guy on the 106th floor and he wants to know how to deal with a hundred people. He wants some directions. I don't know."

9:17 a.m.: "We are trying to get up there sir. Like you said, the stairs are collapsed, OK? Put the wet towels under your head and lie down, OK? I know it's hard to breathe. I know it is."

9:26 a.m.: "All I can tell you to do is sit tight, because I have almost every fireman in the city coming out."

9:35 a.m.: "We have a caller. He's not on the line. States there's a male hanging out the World Trade Center, the window by the antenna tower."

"Well, as soon as I get — sure. Hold on one second. Because we have so much information on here, that our computers are down. Okay?"

9:46 a.m.: "He's on the 97th floor with about six other persons — six persons at the location. Okay, 97th floor. Sir, any smoke over there? Very heavy? The best thing to do is to keep down on the ground. All right? I'll let them know you're there. Okay? All right? Hang in there, bro. All right?"

9:47 a.m.: "You're not by yourself. ... I don't know anything more than what people are calling and telling me. I don't have access to a radio or TV or anything. I don't know."

9:53 a.m.: "I'm still here. The fire department is trying to get to you. OK, try to calm down."

10:17 a.m.: "I understand your concern, sir, and I understand your panic, but we are there in the building. We're getting there as soon as we can."