Inside a harrowing escape from the World Trade Center on 9/11 | 60 Minutes Archive
In a Nutshell
Doug Brown escaped the South Tower's 70th floor after the second plane hit, guided by a security guard to an unknown stairwell and aided by firefighters. He helped a severely injured colleague, Sylvian Ramsinder, down the stairs while both buildings collapsed shortly after they exited. The account underscores how following evacuation orders, individual acts of assistance, and sheer luck determined survival amid the chaos.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Morgan Stanley had more employees at the World Trade Center than any other company, with 3,700 employees. Fewer than a dozen remained missing. Doug Brown, a Morgan Stanley executive, escaped from the 70th floor of the South Tower and may be the luckiest man alive.
Doug Brown was in a staff meeting in the South Tower when the first plane struck the North Tower. It sounded like a very loud, massive fire. Flames were visible, along with burning objects falling through the air. People began evacuating downward, but a security guard instructed them to stay where they were and wait for instructions. An announcement then stated that World Trade Center number two was safe and they were not in danger, directing people to return to their work areas.
Doug Brown got his first look at the damage across the way. The building had a huge hole, as if someone had taken a can opener and pried it open. The scene was jet black, revealing the horror people inside were experiencing. He called his family to tell them he was okay.
The next thing Doug Brown remembers was hearing an explosion that was 10 times louder and felt infinitely more powerful than the first. From the 70th floor, he and coworkers immediately searched for a way out. Debris from the ceilings had fallen, blocking access to the two stairwell doors at the intersection of four halls.
Sign in to read the full notes
Get access to AI-generated notes, topic timestamps, and more.