[Ross Amann]

The Times has "all the news that fits."

Not a word on why there was no escape from the roof for the 2,500 trapped above the impact zones. No mention that Los Angeles requires tall buildings to have a heliport on the roof. Not a word that the NYPD evacuated people from the roof in 1993 (the first bombing). Not a word that the NYFD went ape-sh*t that police were doing the fireman's job - so all such rescues were outlawed from then on.

Interesting information but it definitely "doesn't fit."

[xrp]

I thought the top of the 2 towers was too obscured by smoke for helicopters to attempt landings.

[Senator Pardek]

Gimme a break. First of all, access to the roof was electronically blocked, and the means to change that were disabled during the attack.

Second of all, the NYPD did dispatch copters, but gave up when they realized that the smoke was too heavy for an approach. Anyway, anyone who was lucky enough to make it to the top would have died from smoke inhalation within a minute.

Do I have to post a photo?

[alnick]

I heard that helicopters couldn't rescue the people on the roof becaues the heat was too intense for the helicopters to get close.

[Howlin]

There was no escape from the roof because, quite simply, it was impossible to LAND there with the smoke and wind, not to mention the FIRE and the antennas.

Try to be real.

[FloridaAmerican]

The smoke was obscuring the tops of the towers too much, also, landing a helicopter with the sort of updraft caused by the fires in addition to the crosswinds would have been damn near impossible (The WTC was just too damn tall for "routine" helo ops, let alone landings with thos kinds of conditions.) Additionally, the north tower had too many aerials, cables and pipes so that left only the south for the only helipad on either bldg.

[areafiftyone]

There was no way they could rescue the people from the roof. They couldn't even get near them. Those people were doomed from the start. They couldn't get out of the rooms to go to the elevators anyway the fire was in the building behind them thats why they broke the windows.