Bloomberg TV economics editor reflects on covering Sept. 11

Michael McKee, economics editor for Bloomberg Television, recently reflected on his experience covering the 9/11 attacks.

On the morning of Sept. 11, McKee, who was then covering the economy for Bloomberg News, was in a cab headed to National Association for Business Economics conference at the World Trade Center. McKee was on a pay phone on West Street, across from the South Tower, on hold for a television hit after dictating headlines to the assignment desk, when the South Tower fell.

He returned to the Bloomberg bureau later that day, after helping some economists from the conference make their way from Battery Park to midtown.

McKee reflected on his experience:

“I was in a taxi, heading down Manhattan’s West Side Highway for a conference at the World Trade Center when the first airliner flew over us and crashed into the North Tower. I jumped from the cab and ran three blocks to the trade center as I called headlines in to the desk.”

“Just as I began interviewing witnesses, we heard a tremendous noise, looked up and saw another large passenger plane slam into the South Tower. Glass and debris rained down.”

“And then the screams started. People trapped on the upper floors of the trade center began jumping or falling. We were close enough to hear the sickening thud as the bodies hit the ground.”

“Cellular phones weren’t working because all circuits were busy. I found a pay phone and called the newsroom. I was on hold to go on television when I heard a third, huge explosion.”

“Debris and smoke headed straight for me and I joined police and emergency workers who had been standing around and began racing for safety. The concussion from the explosion knocked me to the ground.”

“And then came the clouds of thick black smoke that filled the air. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see. Suddenly, we were frightened by the sound of jets overhead again — what we didn’t know was this time it was our military jets.”

“Grasping the Riverside railing, dozens of people staggered, crawled, and walked through the smoke, with no idea where they were or where they were going, other than away. When the smoke began to lift, I found I was in Battery Park.

“Bloody, battered, ripped and torn, eventually I made my way back to the newsroom. ‘My God,’ people said. ‘We thought you were dead.’ And then a producer ran up to me. ‘You look terrible!’ he said. ‘Perfect. Get on the set right away.'”