Exclusive: 911 Tapes Tell Horror Of 9/11 (Part 2) Tapes Released For First Time
UPDATED: 5:48 pm EDT June 17, 2002
(Channel 4 WNBC Website)
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- They are the first 911 calls from 9/11 to be released. NewsChannel 4 has an exclusive account of the tapes from Jersey City, which sent hundreds of cops and firefighters into the thick of ground zero.
The tapes show the raw words spoken and recorded that tragic day. A plane had just hit the north tower and many thought it might be an accident, but not one cop.
Officer: A terrorist smashed into the twin towers. I'm down at Exchange Place. Cleared off Exchange Place at this point, this looks like some type of terrorism.
From across the river, the view seemed clear. A sense of foreboding extended even to Lady Liberty.
Official: Might want to clear the Statue of Liberty.
It was not so far-fetched, considering the news from the Pentagon.
Official: Was another building hit in Washington, we just wanna confirm that?
Dispatcher: There are reports on CNN, there's apparently some kind of fire in the Pentagon, nothing confirmed yet, they're still checking it.
After both towers had been hit, the scrambling of Air Force jets was at first more unnerving than reassuring.
Dispatcher: Go ahead.
Official: Hold on, jets flying over here. Can you check with the controller there, we don't know if this is another one.
Official: It's getting pretty close, it looks like some type of jet plane.
Dispatcher: The news is reporting that it's jet fighters.
At one point, a cop called into a 911 center to talk with a friend, perhaps even his wife.
Officer: It's a terrorist.
Dispatcher: Once they find out who did this, that'll be the end of that country. That'll be the end of their country.
Many though were looking closer to home, wondering if the terror was over, and pointing fingers.
Dispatcher: Jersey City police.
Caller: Yes, we have a white van, 2 or 3 guys in there, they look like Palestinians and going around a building.
Caller: There's a minivan heading toward the Holland tunnel, I see the guy by Newark Airport mixing some junk and he has those sheikh uniform.
Dispatcher: He has what?
Caller: He's dressed like an Arab.
The biggest tragedy for Jersey City heroes came in its fire department that day, not for the rescue one guys who went in for search and rescue, but for a civilian who worked out of a dispatch center. Joseph Lovero was a trained EMT who volunteered to ride into New York with the Battalion 3 chief while the towers were still standing.
Official: Battalion 3 to dispatch, we've just had another explosion.
Official: Battalion 3 to dispatch, we've had additional explosion.
Dispatcher: Received battalion command. Additional explosion.
A handful of Jersey City firemen, with a civilian dispatcher, managed to survive, grouping near the still-standing north tower.
Official: Deputy one from Battalion 3, that's affirmative. I have all JCFD personnel on location.
Dispatcher: Received.
Dispatcher: Battalion 5, be advised we're trying to contact Battalion 3 at this moment to report north tower just collapsed.
Dispatcher: Dispatch. Battalion 3.
Official: Battalion 3. I am, I am Greg. North tower has collapsed.
Dispatcher: Battalion 3, all members accounted for?
All, but for Joseph Lovero, his body was found near that of his chief.