Six strangers found themselves in a desperate fight for survival when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and their ordeal in a plummeting elevator is now detailed in a new docuseries.
As American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., the express elevator carrying the six passengers shuddered and began to free-fall, ultimately stopping approximately 15 stories below its ascent, near the 50th floor. Thick, chemical-smelling smoke soon poured into the cabin, intensifying the fear.
Instead of succumbing to panic, the group, which included a window cleaner and two Port Authority officials, worked together to open the elevator doors. Their efforts revealed not an exit, but a solid wall marked with the number "50."
Ingenuity in Crisis
Window cleaner Jan Demczur used a brass squeegee from his toolkit to begin breaking through the drywall. The other passengers joined in, punching and kicking the wall until a hole large enough for them to escape was created. They emerged into a men's bathroom, where firefighters directed them to safety.
The group then descended 50 flights of stairs and exited the North Tower at 10:23 a.m., mere minutes before the tower's collapse. Demczur, along with fellow survivors John Paczkowski and George Phoenix, are reunited in the National Geographic docuseries "9/11 Reunited," which premiered on August 21. The series also streams on Disney+ and Hulu.
Paczkowski, who was the Port Authority's assistant director of operations, and Phoenix, a PA senior engineer, both previously worked in the North Tower. Paczkowski described his job there as a "dream come true," while Phoenix recalled a significant personal memory at the World Trade Center's observation deck.
"Seeing Jan and George again after all of these years reminded me of not only the tragedy of that day and the enduring grief we feel for all who were lost, but also the raw humanity of what we shared, how blessed we are to still be alive, and the responsibility we have to live life to its fullest," Paczkowski told The Post.
Broader Connections
Demczur's rescue is one of several stories featured in the three-part series, which aims to reunite survivors of the 9/11 attacks with the strangers and rescuers who impacted their lives. The series includes the story of Deborah St. John, who suffered severe injuries after being struck by debris from the second plane to hit the WTC. She reunites with Stefan Horlacher, a stranger who provided first aid and flagged down an ambulance amid the chaos.
Director Julian Jones stated that the series sought to capture the meaningful connections forged during the tragedy. "After 25 years, the reunions became a chance for these survivors to say 'thank you,' to pass on a message, to honor the dead, and to reckon with their past," Jones said.