I can't fault anyone for not using helicopters to rescue people -- can you imagine the panic that would have ensued if helicopters *had* come up by the roof, after two jumbo jets had crashed into the towers? People would have thought they were part of the plot as well!
But not evacuating the building properly is something the Port Authority and Larry Silverstein can be criticized on. Nobody expected planes to crash into the towers, but there should have been better evacuation plans other than telling people to stay in their offices when the buildings were on fire.
there should have been better evacuation plans other than telling people to stay in their offices when the buildings were on fire.
That did not happen. Security guards told people in Tower 2 to remain in their building, which was not on fire and did not appear to be in any danger. At the time they gave that advice (it certainly wasn’t legally binding) there was glass, metal, and bodies raining down outside from Tower 1.
The security guards had no way of knowing that another plane was headed their way. They probably died themselves for not having that knowledge.