A 9/11 Survivor Finally Shares the Story She Kept Private for 25 Years

On September 11, 2001, Linda started her morning like many others. As a 23-year-old equity research associate on Wall Street, she headed to work on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower for the boutique investment firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW). What unfolded in the early hours of that workday would change Linda’s life forever and alter the course of American history. Twenty-five years later, Linda shares her sweeping firsthand account with SmartHER News about what happened inside the building as al-Qaeda terrorists intentionally crashed a passenger plane into the South Tower, instantly severing her elevator’s cables. Linda describes what followed: a miraculous development, near-death escapes, the heroes who helped her, and the coworkers she wants the world to remember: Dean Eberling, Russell Keene, Sean Lugano, and Greg Trost. She reflects on rebuilding her life, how that day changed her priorities, and why she chose to share her story now. As we commemorate 250 years since the founding of our nation, we honor 25 years since the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. Linda’s primary-source account forever ensures that America, and the world, will never forget. 0:00 A Morning That Changed Everything 2:57 Inside the World Trade Center Culture 5:27 The First Signs of Trouble 9:08 Trapped in the Elevator Shaft 16:48 Escaping the Collapsing Towers 24:28 Rebuilding and Remembering Executive Producer/Reporter: Jenna Lee, Journalist and Founder of SmartHER News Associate Producer / Researcher: Stephanie Wagner Associate Producer / Researcher: Courtney Stein Lesskis Audio Engineer: Kaleb Muñoz Field Producer/Production Manager: Buddy Quaid Hair & Makeup: Leah Trogan Black Editor: Joel Knoop Motion Graphics: Michael Wilfong Audio Post: Jason Kuehn Love nonpartisan news? Want a bigger serving of the serious headlines?  Here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/ Shop our gear! https://smarthernews.com/shop/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/ Website: https://smarthernews.com/