WTC Building 7
The 47-Story Mystery
At 5:20 PM on September 11, 2001, something strange happened 350 feet away from the Twin Towers. Building 7, a massive 47-story skyscraper, collapsed completely into its own footprint.
The Fact
It Was Not Hit by a Plane
Unlike the Twin Towers, Building 7 was never struck by an aircraft. The damage it took was limited to debris from the other towers and office fires on several floors.
The Statistic
7 Seconds
The entire building fell in roughly 7 seconds. This is significant because it means the building fell almost as fast as a rock dropped from the roof, meeting virtually zero resistance on the way down.
The History
Unprecedented Event
This had never happened before. Prior to this day, and in all the years since, no steel-framed skyscraper in history has ever collapsed due to fire alone.
