'Never Seen Before' Terrifying Footage Taken From the Sky During 9/11 Highlights the Devastating Impact of the Attack

It was a morning like any other in New York City. Within minutes, it became the darkest day in modern American history. For those who lived through the terror of 9/11, the memories remain etched in vivid detail. Every now and then, a new perspective surfaces that reopens the wounds and reminds the world of the unimaginable horror that unfolded from the skies. Recently, a previously unseen piece of footage began circulating online, offering a chilling new view from a helicopter that was flying over the World Trade Center on that catastrophic day, as per LAD Bible.

Originally part of National Geographic’s ‘9/11: One Day in America,’ the footage is now gaining viral attention after resurfacing on social media. For many viewers, this was the first time, they had seen what the chaos looked like from above, and the impact is staggering. Bill Kennedy, an NYPD Emergency Service Unit officer, was aboard the helicopter that day. Recalling the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, he said they had once rescued people from the roof and believed a similar operation might be possible. Kennedy remarked, "In 1993, we were able to rescue people off the roof, so having experienced this somewhat before, we thought it would be the same game plan. I had so much confidence…But as we're approaching, you can start to see the size and scope of this,” as per the LAD Bible.

But the reality was way worse than they imagined. From their vantage point, they circled the North and South Towers, hoping to spot survivors. The South Tower’s roof was engulfed in thick smoke, completely inaccessible. The North Tower offered a brief glimmer of hope, but sadly, no one was visible on the roof. Kennedy recalled, "My heart just sunk into my stomach…I'm seeing mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, literally standing on the damaged portion of the building waving white handkerchiefs and tablecloths, and napkins to let us know we need assistance. 'Can you help us?' There were so many, but there's nothing you can do. You're witnessing it and watching it." The haunting footage captures a heart-wrenching scene, as per the LAD Bible.

Lt. Glen Daley, a pilot with the NYPD’s aviation unit, later explained, "Multiply the heat factor... now you've got the worst of all possible situations playing themselves out…People may have in their mind's eye a view of this pristine roof, salvation. Those roofs were totally compromised and with thick, acrid, black smoke, intense heat coming up from the fire." On the ground, another perspective emerged in the form of a homemade video filmed by college student Caroline Dries. From her dorm window, she and her friends watched the North Tower burn, unaware of the second horror to come. Their confusion quickly turned to terror as the second plane struck. One friend exclaimed, “Thank God it’s not a terrorist attack,” moments before realizing it was exactly that, as per the LAD Bible.

Dries’ footage, which later featured in ‘102 Minutes That Changed America,’ shows the human panic in real time. The woman screamed, shut their windows, and ducked as smoke from the collapsing towers hurtled toward them, as per the LAD Bible. Together, the aerial footage and Dries' intimate, ground-level video form a devastating portrait of the 9/11 attacks.