Renee Cottrell Brown and her husband, Eric Brown, are recounting their survival of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City. The couple was staying at the World Trade Center Marriott, located between the Twin Towers, while on a business trip for Renee’s father’s company, Pro-Line Hair Care Corporation.
On that morning, Renee chose to skip her workout in the glass-encased gym above their room to order room service instead. Shortly after, a hijacked American Airlines jet struck the first tower, causing the building to shake violently and debris to fall into their area. Eric Brown described the moment they realized something was wrong as the structure shook and debris began to drop.
When Eric opened their hotel room door, a man fleeing from the gym warned them of a fire above. The couple descended the stairs to the lobby, with Renee wearing only a robe and flip-flops. She later noted she was glad she had not gone to the gym, as the man who ran past them had urged them to leave immediately.
Outside the hotel, emergency personnel guided them through shattered glass and instructed them not to look up. Eric said that when they finally did look, they saw a gaping hole in the adjacent building with flames emerging. He described the horror of watching people jump from windows, noting that each jumper caused screams among the crowd.
Renee added that she witnessed some individuals holding hands as they jumped.
The couple also recalled seeing the second plane fly low before crashing into the second tower, which created a massive blast and sent crowds running in fear. Eric described the realization that thousands had died and the instinct to flee for survival.
