'9/11: Inside the Pentagon' Premiers on PBS

Category: Television and Streaming

Fifteen years ago terrorists who had hijacked airplanes and used them as lethal weapons attacked the United States. Two planes hit the World Trade Center in New York City, one plane was brought down by the passengers in a field in Pennsylvania, and a fourth plane smashed into the Pentagon. 9/11: Inside the Pentagon is the story of those people who were inside the Pentagon at the time and those who responded to help.

This is a film that shows the dedication and selflessness of Americans during that fateful day. Through first person accounts and some reenactments, the minute-by-minute story of the day in Washington unfolds with stark reality. 184 people lost their lives at the Pentagon that day, including those on the plane.

“To know the full story of what happened on 9/11, we need to know what happened at the Pentagon,” said Kirk Wolfinger, executive producer of 9/11 Inside the Pentagon. “It’s remarkable that 15 years later, few of us really know the extent of the damage that took place there, the risk posed to our national defense apparatus and the dramatic stories of heroism that kept the Pentagon running throughout this ordeal—a point that the Defense Department is rightly very proud of. People returned to work at the Pentagon the very next day.”

As it is stated in the film, the Pentagon was bruised but not broken. That is a testament to the resilience of the people and the country. That day Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said in a press conference that the people would return to work immediately. The Pentagon has never closed in the history of the building. It didn’t close on 9/11.

In this film, which is dedicated to the 184 people who died there, viewers get an unprecedented look inside the building and hear some of the most courageous stories from those who were there. Accounts from those who were inside trying to make it out, those who were outside trying to make it in to help, and those who were on the periphery doing their jobs, combine to make this a thorough account of American courage and resilience. The stories are incredible to hear.

The accounts of the fire engine that wouldn’t move, the blast-resistant windows that wouldn’t/couldn’t open, the anticipation of another attack on the building, and the first sight of an American fighter plane dipping its wings over the site are memorable. The bravery of those at the Pentagon are just as much a part of that fateful day as the people on United 93 and in NYC.

9/11: Inside the Pentagon premiers September 6, 2016 on PBS.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

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