“We’re going to be unable to land on the roof due to the heavy smoke condition at this time,” Hayes radioed in from just off the north tower at 8:58. They had barely stopped talking when Hayes spotted United Flight 175 roaring toward them through the sky. “Jesus Christ, there’s a second plane crashing,” he yelled to Walsh. They pulled up quickly and the plane shot beneath them, bursting through the south tower, and sending a giant ball of flame coughing out the other side. Within minutes, the roof of that tower had also vanished behind the smoke.
