9/11 photos that still haunt journalists reporting from Ground Zero as tragedy unfolded

11 Sep 2026 • 5:06 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

9/11 photos that still haunt journalists reporting from Ground Zero as tragedy unfolded

  • Associated Press journalists recalled their harrowing firsthand experiences documenting the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in New York City as the quarter-century mark approaches.
  • Reporter Karen Matthews was preparing her young daughter for preschool near the World Trade Center when the first plane hit, prompting her to gather eyewitness accounts while holding her child before taking shelter in her apartment.
  • Photographer Richard Drew captured the iconic "The Falling Man" photograph depicting a victim plunging headfirst from the towers, an image many news outlets refused to publish that he continues to reflect on weekly.
  • Journalist Larry Neumeister reported from a medical facility near Ground Zero where doctors stood by with empty gurneys, quickly realizing that victims had either escaped immediately or perished in the debris.
  • Photographer Amy Sancetta documented the south tower collapsing from a block and a half away, recalling the surreal silence and ash-covered streets where office papers drifted through the air like birds.

IN FULL

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved