More than 23 years have passed since the September 11 attacks shook the world, yet footage of that tragic day continues to surface, drawing intense interest and reflection.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, New York City was bustling as usual—until 8:46 a.m., when the first of two hijacked planes crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Less than 20 minutes later, a second plane struck the South Tower.
A third plane would go on to crash into the Pentagon, home to the U.S. Department of Defense. Meanwhile, passengers aboard a fourth hijacked flight fought back, forcing the plane to crash into a field in Pennsylvania—preventing what is believed to have been an intended attack on the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, with thousands more injured. The global impact of that day would stretch far beyond New York, leading to decades of war and millions of lives lost in the aftermath.
Given the sheer scale of the tragedy, it’s no surprise that 9/11 remains a moment in history that people continue to examine—especially as new eyewitness accounts and previously unseen footage emerge.
One such piece of footage was recently uploaded to YouTube by Kei Sugimoto, who recorded the attack from the rooftop of 64 St Marks Place in New York City. Shared on July 23, 2024, Sugimoto’s video has since amassed over a million views, offering a unique angle of the events that unfolded that morning.
Speaking to LADbible, Sugimoto, now 46, explained why he decided to release the footage after all these years.
“I had just assumed it was an accident and there was a fire,” he recalled, describing his initial thoughts after seeing smoke rise from the North Tower. However, his perspective changed instantly when he witnessed the second plane slam into the South Tower.
“That’s when I thought, okay, for sure, this is not just an accident. This is intentional. It’s a terrorist attack,” he said.
Realizing the significance of what he was witnessing, Sugimoto grabbed his camera and began recording. He later attempted to submit the footage to his local police department, but he says officers didn’t take his offer seriously at the time. As a result, the tapes sat untouched in his closet for more than two decades.
Now, his footage is being widely shared online, with many viewers grateful for his decision to preserve history.
“This offers a unique perspective not seen from the south or east,” one user commented. Another added, “It’s crazy that we’re almost 23 years out and still discovering new footage.”
A third reflected on the significance of unseen records from past events: “Makes me wonder how much history is sitting in people’s attics or basements, waiting to be unearthed.”
Watch the chilling footage here.
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