Most images of 9/11 depict destruction on a massive scale. But Richard Drew’s quiet picture of one man falling from the towers conveys the tragedy of every life lost that day.
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The Falling Man | Behind The Photo | 100 Photos | TIME

Comments
49 responses to “The Falling Man | Behind The Photo | 100 Photos | TIME”
The poor people at the top…
Definitely the darkest day of my 35 years so far.
Craziest part is he had the slimmest chances of living. It was either death or death…
Desespero de ver pessoas se jogando das Torres
Looks like Barock Obongo. 2:47
Stair tower 18(81)
Don't mess with ouidad boards etc etc ouijiboards..peace be still and know
Senhor Jesus Cristo nos livre de terroristas, comunistas, cospiracionistas e satanistas. Perdoe nossos pecados e enviai o Divino Espírito Santo nos corações dos homens da terra, sobretudo nos políticos e governantes.
The choosen people there had only Two choices: Death and Death— Death Through fire or death through fall. Those who burned, burned nobely in pain. Those who fell, fell for freedom but had no gain. But still in history, their sacrifices will remain— of courage and for the human species.
What makes this photo so powerful is he is one of the most impactful human being that ever lived that no one knows.
It's 2023 and hunderds of people are still being killed by islamic jihadi terrorists everyday. This religion demands constant blood sacrifices.
Most of us have had dreams of falling. When I have, I've felt a sense of dread, sorrow, an overwhelming urge to turn back that moment of time. We always wake up, and before long that uncomfortable state of mind fades. For this man, that awakening never came. That fear didn't slowly give way to a sense of assurance, it would have just blinked out in an instance. I only hope, in his last moments, that he found some sense of peace through his decision to take his fate into his own hands.
Damn, i still cry every time i see 911 pictures
I think that his name is known, it's just that they want to keep the family away from the limelight and out of respect (maybe at their request). There are many ways to id this man, DNA, fingerprints, and personal effects. RIP falling man.
22 years later, I still remember in vivid detail that day. Each time, seeing this, still feels like a gut punch to the soul.
Why didn't they just finger print him or look for his wallet in his pocket to find out who he was
Rest in peace, the falling man
what was this guys name?
My mom still has the New York times paper saved from the day after the attacks happened in a folder and it has the falling man image. We live on the other side of the country and I was 4 years old, a month from turning 5, when 9/11 occured and my mom didn't want her youngest kid at the time to panic so I was sheltered from it when it happened. But I asked questions when I got a little older and she answered them honestly. She remembers turning on the TV that day (NBC with Katie Couric I believe) and this was before the second plane hit. She watched and she had a gut feeling telling her that this was no accident and she remembered that there was a terrorist bombing that happened in 1993 at the world trade center. So she immediately brought me with her to the car to pick up my oldest sisters from school while she had the radio on to catch up what was going on as it was happening. As we were driving home with my sisters, the radio talks about a second plane hitting and she had to pull over to keep herself under control. Her suspicions were correct and it was at that time everyone knew that this wasn't an accident of some sort. I read through the newspaper that she had saved for all these years last year and I could feel the sadness and panic reading that newspaper. It's sickening that there are people in this world that would do such a thing to cause panic in any country. Bless the people who lost their loved ones and friends on that devastating day.
Extremely important to show the world content like this.
A lot of people make assumptions. For all we know he could have been blown out. We don't know if they made a choice to jump.
Close your eyes, you'll be here soon
"journalists" kissing their own asses calling themself brave is a joke
Gut wrenching, I’ll never forget this image. May his memory be a blessing.
I tear up every time I see the photo.
What's up Danger?
What’s up danger
Atleast he didn’t die slowly in a fire…
I think they didn’t want to actually recognize him officially since the family could have sued the media for a huge bag
Ill never forget this day. I was a freshman in high school. We had block schedule so we had 4 90 minute classes a day instead of 8 45 minute classes. Point is we watched it all unfold without interruption because of that. The guy to my right went on to become an AFSOC CCT – served 5 Rotations overseas. The kid that sat t2 seats to the left of me went on to serve 9 tears in SEAL Team 2. It effected us all so differently. But this photo hit us all in a very similar way. It seems to slow down time no matter the happening. I appreciate it in more ways than one for sure.
Omg I want to go there
The thoughts and emotions when he jumped. I feel stabbing heart pain looking at it till today. 21 century we have all these high tech equipment yet people whom was stuck in the building that day couldn’t be saved. If the man was a president, or high government officials the ending would’ve been so different. We have rights freedoms, but do we really have equality to be saved at any cost and effort being just a normal person? We are born the same yet the value of life is so off the grid it’s disgusting. If that was George brush a lot more actions and effort would’ve been taken at any cost. I’m sure they could’ve saved a lot more but whom would want to risk there life? Firefighters? Police officers? Yes! They swarm to serve and protect with their life. Charge if you see people that needs help run in and save them. That what y’all get paid to do, so do the job right. If they run in and sacrificed then yes your a hero, not standing outside seeing people wave for help and pretend they didn’t see nothing like a coward!
I’m so so sorry
I literally was in a house fire and I would have jumped out any window to get away from burning, so if anyone thinks that jumping out the window was wrong just imagine the pain that the fire would cause unlike the fall!!!
I believe i can fly.
This photo still makes me shed tears after 20 years especially knowing he was African American like me.
He should've activated the cheat. Character in GTA could fly with code
It won't let me watch it?
For me as someone has no root to that person i find it very sad and disturbing you can see an angel going to his death, imagine if it was your father, or brother, or relative, and see it on all the pages, that's very traumatizating, to be followed by the death of your father/brother etc. Especialy like that.
I can’t get over this. Any of it but people do not really know who he is exactly. What an awful end to your life. I will never get over what they did to us.
if i ever have to work or live in a building taller than 10 floors im bringing a parachute to stash there.
Whenever I see this I cannot stop crying… what was going through that man’s head? I can only imagine, and it’s sad and terrifying. So many tears for all those people. Not just in the buildings but on the planes, at the pentagon. 3000 lives gone in a day, on American soil.
2023 here still hurts knowing they had to grow through this especially those jumping off may they all be in heaven no more pain and happily watching there loved ones down on earth who cherished and love them all
🙏
The falling man said.. Let me die my way… 🙏🙏🙏
not sure if its believable but apparently theres a documentary about a 7 year old boy who apparently has vivid memories of falling from the twin towers, could this boy be that mans reincarnation?
i didnt witness 9 11. But that photograph makes me cry every time I look at it. I can’t imagine the horrors the people went through.
1:09 I'm just in shock…
1:40 Made me tear up
Der Schlimmste Tag der USA und für die ganze Welt da hat sich alles so verändert .
I hope and pray the USA has plans to make sure this never happens and again.