A Long-Lost Clip Comes to Light
Nearly 20 years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a previously unseen video emerged on YouTube, offering a fresh and startling perspective of the attacks.
Uploaded by Kevin Westley, the almost nine-minute video stands out for its remarkable clarity and unique vantage point. Filmed from a boat, it captures the horrifying moment the second plane hit the South Tower—an angle never shown publicly before.
For years, the world believed that all significant footage from that day had already surfaced. Thousands of images and videos circulated in the aftermath, documenting the loss of nearly 3,000 lives and the destruction of the World Trade Center. However, Westley’s video, released decades later, proves that even after so much time, new revelations can still come to light.
A Chilling Moment Caught on Camera
The footage opens with the North Tower already burning after being hit by American Airlines Flight 11. The camera zooms in on papers fluttering in the smoke and heat. Just two minutes into the video, the camera swings around just in time to catch the second plane flying in low over the water, slamming into the South Tower.
Cries of shock and disbelief can be heard from the crowd witnessing the moment from the boat.
Why the Footage Was Hidden for So Long
In a statement accompanying the video, Westley explained that he had uploaded the clip in the early 2000s but mistakenly set it to private. It remained hidden until he discovered the oversight and made it public.
Alongside the footage, he shared his personal reflections—not just about witnessing the attacks, but also his experience as an aircraft commander during the 2003 Iraq War.
Personal Reflections on Tragedy and War
Westley vividly recalled the events of 9/11, saying, “In an instant, I saw 2,763 d!e. Twenty-five thousand more were injured.” He described being enveloped in the dust cloud from the tower collapse and seeing a child’s photograph, wondering whether the child had become an orphan.
He also shared haunting memories from his military service. When he first arrived in Iraq, the man seated next to him on the transport flight died in a mortar strike the next day. Nights were often interrupted by the sound of explosions, including one incident where gravel from a blast hit his tent.
He frequently served on a funeral detail, escorting fallen soldiers. “I would wonder—did they have a wife? Kids? Had their parents been told?” he wrote. Westley concluded his post with a somber thought: “In war, a piece of our soul is lost on the battlefield and can never be replaced in this life.”
Honoring the Heroes of 9/11
Among the countless iconic images of 9/11 is that of firefighter Mike Kehoe climbing the North Tower stairs while others fled. His bravery, captured in a photo that appeared on the front page of the Mirror, became a lasting symbol of the courage shown by first responders that day.
Kehoe survived, though 343 of his fellow firefighters did not. Over the years, several of his friends died from cancer linked to exposure to toxic debris. Despite it all, Kehoe remains dedicated to the profession. When asked in 2021 why he still worked as a firefighter, he responded, “I just love it.”
He recalled people wishing them luck as they climbed toward the impact zone. But soon, orders came to evacuate. “We turned back immediately. The lobby was like Beirut—rubble everywhere.” Remarkably, all six members of Kehoe’s Engine 28 unit survived, a rare blessing amid so much loss.
