David Kravette, a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald, narrowly escaped death on September 11, 2001, due to an unexpected client meeting and his decision to assist with an identification issue. Kravette, who worked on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower, arrived at his office around 7 a.m. that morning.
His office, located on floors 101 through 105, was directly above the impact zone of American Airlines Flight 11, which struck the tower between the 93rd and 99th floors. None of the Cantor Fitzgerald employees present in their offices that morning survived.
Kravette had a client meeting scheduled for 8 a.m. with an IT team. When one member of the team arrived without identification, Kravette volunteered to go downstairs to vouch for him, rather than send his assistant, who was nearing maternity leave. This decision required him to descend over 100 floors.
He reached the lobby and had walked only a short distance when Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Kravette described a blast of burning jet fuel that engulfed the lobby, killing those nearby. He felt an intense heat wash over his face, but the flames stopped just short of him.
"If I was upstairs, or if they came up, we would all have died together," Kravette told the Daily Mail. "I won the lottery with my life, I guess."
Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 of its 960 New York employees in the attacks, the largest death toll for any single employer. Kravette's survival was attributed to a chain of events initiated by a visitor forgetting their wallet, requiring someone to descend from the upper floors.
Normally, Kravette rarely left his office during the trading day, as the building offered amenities like ATMs, cafeterias, and even smoking rooms. The firm also employed "Bluecoats" to run errands, allowing brokers to remain at their desks.
Upon hearing a screeching sound, Kravette witnessed the lobby erupt in flames and carnage. The tower's lobby windows shattered, preventing immediate escape through the main exits. He eventually found a way out through an overpass connecting to a neighboring building.
Initially, Kravette, like many others, believed the first impact was an accident. However, when a second plane struck the South Tower, it became clear the events were not accidental.
He remained in Manhattan until that evening, trying to ascertain who had survived and plan the firm's next steps. The initial days were filled with uncertainty, as news of the missing employees was slow to emerge. Kravette recalled telling his wife that Cantor Fitzgerald might collapse and they needed to be financially cautious.
Survivors, including Kravette, returned to work to rebuild. Cantor transferred operations to London as employees attempted to reconstruct trading positions. Kravette described this period as spending half the day working and the other half attending funerals, often splitting with his wife to cover overlapping services.
"What choice do you have?" Kravette said when asked about continuing with life and work. He found that keeping busy was therapeutic and it took about six months to feel like himself again. The experience shifted his perspective, leading him to focus on his family and enjoy life more.
Cantor Fitzgerald not only survived but expanded. The firm established an annual Charity Day, donating all revenue to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund in memory of those lost. This event honors the 658 Cantor employees and 61 colleagues from Euro Brokers who perished. The event typically involves celebrity ambassadors alongside traders across multiple offices.
Kravette continues to participate in Charity Day each September 11 in Manhattan, viewing it as a way to make a difficult day more meaningful.
He agreed to share his story for the upcoming 25th anniversary to ensure younger generations understand the significance of 9/11. "They should be taught it, and that’s why I’m doing this interview," he stated. "It’s important to tell the story."
Nearly 25 years later, Kravette believes his survival serves as a stark reminder for the nation's continued vigilance. "There are definitely bad people out there," he said. "I don’t think we can put our guard down, ever. We have to be vigilant as a nation."