From Fortune · Catherina Gioino · · 2m
The near misses of 9/11
A kindergarten drop-off, a dermatologist appointment and a golf tournament are why some people lived through September 11.
In brief
A kindergarten drop-off, a dermatologist appointment and a golf tournament are why some people lived through September 11. Survival that morning often came down to a small change of plan made for reasons that had nothing to do with danger. Originally reported by Fortune.
The morning that changed everything
On September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers seized four planes. Two hit the World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon, one went down in a Pennsylvania field. Nearly 3,000 people died.
Whole firms gone by lunch
Some Lower Manhattan companies lost most of their staff in a single morning. Both towers fell within two hours of the first impact, and the country rebuilt its security state around that day.
Howard Lutnick took his son to school
The Cantor Fitzgerald CEO was usually at his desk on the North Tower's 105th floor by 6 a.m. His wife sent him to kindergarten drop-off instead. His brother Gary went to work and was one of 658 colleagues killed.
“So it was my son Kyle's first day of kindergarten”
Yes, dear
Larry Silverstein had breakfast every day at Windows on the World, weeks after signing a 99-year lease on the towers. His wife booked him a dermatologist appointment. Nobody else at the restaurant that morning lived.
“You learn early on to say, 'Yes, dear'”
A stop to fix his glasses
Michael Lomonaco, the chef at Windows on the World, was on the concourse having his glasses adjusted when the first plane hit. Over 30 of his kitchen staff died. He has raised nearly $25 million for their families.
“It saved my life”
A meeting room too small
Jim Pierce had a meeting on an upper floor of the South Tower, but the group outgrew the room and moved next door. Twelve people never got the message and 11 of them died. He watched the second plane hit.
“I knew we were under attack”
A budget fight kept Romney away
Mitt Romney was set to unveil the Olympic torchbearers at a press conference beside the World Trade Center. A congressional dispute over Games security funding held him in Washington.
“We had planned to be in New York City on the 11th”
Late calls and missed flights
Sarah Ferguson skipped a meeting on the 101st floor after an interview ran long. Jimmy Dunne was at a golf qualifier while 66 of his colleagues died. Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane both came off Flight 11.
“I was meant to be there that morning”
What it means
Survival that morning often came down to a small change of plan made for reasons that had nothing to do with danger.
