On September 11 , 2001 , minutes after United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower between floors 77 and 85 at 9:03 a.m. , Crowther called his mother from his office at 9:12 a.m. , leaving the message , " Mom , this is Welles . I wanted you to know that I 'm OK . " Crowther made his way to the 78th floor sky lobby , where he encountered a group of survivors , including a badly burned Lin Young , who worked on the 86th floor in New York 's Department of Taxation and Finance . Young had been one of about 200 people waiting at a bank of elevators to evacuate when the plane hit the tower and was one of the few survivors . Crowther , carrying a young woman on his back , directed them to the one working stairway . The survivors followed him 17 floors down , where he dropped off the woman he was carrying before heading back upstairs to assist others . By the time he returned to the 78th floor , he had a bandana around his nose and mouth to protect him from smoke and haze . He found another group of survivors , which included AON Corp. employee Judy Wein , who worked on the 103rd floor and was in pain from a broken arm , cracked ribs and a punctured lung . According to Wein , Crowther assisted in putting out fires and administering first aid . He then announced to that group , " Everyone who can stand , stand now . If you can help others , do so . " He directed this group downstairs as well . As occupants of the Tower headed for the street , Crowther returned up the stairs to help others . He was last seen doing so with members of the FDNY before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m
United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175
Welles Crowther