In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen explore the harrowing survival stories from the South Tower during the 9/11 attacks. When United Airlines Flight 175 struck between floors 77-85, only one stairwell remained intact - Stairwell A. Faced with conflicting information and impossible choices, 18 people made the critical decision that saved their lives.

The episode follows the remarkable stories of Brian Clark, who risked his own escape to save a trapped stranger, and Stanley Praimnath, who survived the plane's wing slicing through his office.  Kaycee and Julie examine how split-second decisions, leadership under pressure, and trusting your instincts can mean the difference between life and death.

A powerful reminder that in our darkest moments, the choices we make and the compassion we show can change everything.

00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast
00:28 The Harrowing Tale of Stairwell A
02:01 Brian Clark: A Leader in Crisis
02:57 The Twin Towers: Engineering Marvels and Vulnerabilities
03:53 The First Impact: North Tower Hit
05:05 A Fatal Announcement in the South Tower
07:22 The Second Impact: South Tower Hit
12:13 The Critical Decision: Up or Down?
15:40 A Miraculous Rescue Amidst Chaos
18:37 Brian and Stanley's Harrowing Escape
19:43 Ron DCO's Fateful Decision
21:18 The Descent Through Stairwell A
24:04 Reaching the Ground Floor
26:10 The Collapse of the South Tower
27:37 Ron De Francesco's Miraculous Survival
29:34 The Aftermath and Psychological Impact
32:37 Lessons Learned from 9/11
35:20 The Power of Human Connection
37:36 Reflections and Final Thoughts

 

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References for Stairwell A Episode

Primary Survivor Accounts

1. Brian Clark (September 11 survivor) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Clark_(September_11_survivor) Detailed account of Clark's escape, the 81st floor decision point, and rescue of Stanley Praimnath
2. Stanley Praimnath - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Praimnath Account of seeing Flight 175 approaching, diving under desk, and rescue by Brian Clark
3. Canadian last known person to escape World Trade Center on 9/11 - TBNewsWatch.com https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/canadian-last-known-person-to-escape-world-trade-center-on-911-8660497 Ron DiFrancesco's story as the last person to escape the South Tower
4. Final survivor of south tower collapse struggles with scars of 9/11 - Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/news/final-survivor-of-south-tower-collapse-struggles-with-scars-of-9-11.html Ron DiFrancesco's post-9/11 trauma and recovery

Official Documentation & Reports

1. 9/11 Commission Report/Chapter 9 - Wikisource https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/9/11_Commission_Report/Chapter_9 Official government analysis of evacuations and emergency response
2. Casualties of the September 11 attacks - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks Comprehensive data on casualties, survivors, and evacuation details
3. A timeline of the tragic events that unfolded on Sept 11, 2001 - Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/us/september-11-2001-timeline-events Includes exact wording of "Building Two is secure" announcement
4. Theta Chi Remembers: 9/11 Timeline https://www.thetachi.org/9-11-timeline Detailed timeline with specific announcement times and wording

Aircraft and Technical Details

1. United Airlines Flight 175 - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_175 Boeing 767 specifications, fuel capacity, impact speed, and hijacker details
2. Collapse of the World Trade Center - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_the_World_Trade_Center Technical details of impact zones, stairwell damage, and building collapse
3. Boeing 767 - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_767 Aircraft specifications and technical details

Building Construction & Design

1. Construction of the World Trade Center - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_of_the_World_Trade_Center Tube-frame construction details, structural design, and stairwell layout
2. How was the construction of the World Trade Center unique? - HowStuffWorks https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/world-trade-center-construction-unique.htm "Tube within a tube" design explanation and structural innovations
3. World Trade Center (1973–2001) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_(1973–2001) Comprehensive building specifications, including 236 perimeter columns and 47 core columns
4. The World Trade Center's Construction: 8 Surprising Facts - HISTORY https://www.history.com/articles/world-trade-center-twin-towers-construction-facts Revolutionary structural design and construction innovations

Evacuation Analysis

1. How the Design of the World Trade Center Claimed Lives on 9/11 - HISTORY https://www.history.com/articles/world-trade-center-stairwell-design-9-11 Analysis of stairwell design, evacuation challenges, and Stairwell A survival
2. September 11: Escaping the South Tower and a Framework of Surviving an Infrastructure Disaster - HS Today https://www.hstoday.us/featured/september-11-escaping-the-south-tower-and-a-framework-of-surviving-an-infrastructure-disaster/ Kevin Dorrian's escape account and survival analysis
3. 14 individuals survived the collapse of the north tower by taking shelter in Stairwell B - Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/us/stairwell-b-story-14-survivors-north-tower-9-11 Context on North Tower Stairwell B survivors for comparison

Emergency Response & Aftermath

1. Surviving in stairwell B: A Port Authority officer's story - Police1 https://www.police1.com/september-11/articles/surviving-in-stairwell-b-a-port-authority-officers-story-of-survival-after-steel-concrete-came-crashing-down-on-him-during-the-world-trade-centers-north-tower-collapse-WZGuq2qQBiN5HV1u/ Emergency responder perspective and rescue operations
2. Timeline for United Airlines Flight 175 - NPR https://www.npr.org/2004/06/17/1962517/timeline-for-united-airlines-flight-175 Official timeline of Flight 175 hijacking and impact

Documentaries Referenced

1. BBC docudrama "9/11: The Twin Towers" (2006) Featured Brian Clark and Stanley Praimnath's story
2. National Geographic "9/11: One Day in America" (2021) Documentary featuring multiple survivor accounts
3. "United by 9/11" (2006) Documentary chronicling various survivor stories