Conor O'Clery

Conor O'Clery is a New York City–based reporter for the Irish Times. His office was just three blocks away from the World Trade Center. When he heard the explosion of the first plane crashing into the first tower, he ran to his office window and watched the building burn. As he stood there, he saw the second plane crash into the other tower. The fireball explosion from the planes immediately incinerated everything in its path—desks, chairs, paper, carpet, and humans. It is estimated the inferno reached 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt steel. Thousands of people were trapped by debris, fire, and collapsed walls and stairs, and were unable to get off their floors. Rather than succumb to a horrifying death by fire or smoke inhalation, many chose to jump to their death. Onlookers below, such as O'Clery, were...