9:09 A.M.
CBS BROADCAST CENTER
WEST FIFTY-SEVENTH STREET
NEW YORK CITY
Lee Van Allen was broadcasting live. The monitor cut to a wide-angle, grainy video feed showing clouds of smoke, in real time, over part of Manhattan.
A bright red digital strip cut across the bottom of the screen: SPECIAL REPORT.
“One,” said Wood in Van Allen’s ear. “Go, kid.”
“This is Lee Van Allen, reporting to you live from CBS headquarters in New York City. It is nine oh nine A.M. and what you are seeing is what appears to be some sort of terrorist attack on New York City.…”
Abruptly, the feed cut and displayed a different camera angle, this time from the air.
It was the under-mounted camera on the local CBS affiliate’s helicopter, used mainly for traffic reports. The chopper was above the Lower West Side, where tall spires of thick smoke reached into the sky.
“I believe what you’re seeing is the Lincoln Tunnel,” said Van Allen, her voice wavering as she narrated the stunning scene. “I’m seeing this just as you are. I’m going to do my best not to get emotional but I can’t make any promises. It appears that once again New York City is under attack.”
As the helicopter cut across the city and climbed, the camera picked up three more towering columns of smoke rising at the boundaries of the city. Van Allen knew immediately what it meant.
“Oh my Lord,” she said, even though she was live. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is live footage from above New York City, where it looks like at least four large explosions have taken place, all in the vicinity of the tunnels leading into Manhattan.”
As the chopper moved toward the East Side, the UN came into view, in the distance, shrouded by clouds of smoke pouring out of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, but also from the UN building itself. Part of the front of the building was destroyed—a large hole in the sleek blue glass marred the front, halfway up—then another missile sped from somewhere on the ground up into another part of the building and punched a hole in a different section.
“My God,” said Van Allen. “They’re attacking the UN where, as I speak, President J. P. Dellenbaugh is scheduled to address the General Assembly.…”