On September 11, 2001, FBI agents and staff from South Florida to New York—each at different stages in their careers—recognized instantly that everything had changed. As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks, several former and current agents are sharing their firsthand accounts of that day and its enduring impact on the bureau.
Evacuation and Immediate Response in New York
Jeffrey Koch, based in Manhattan, was forced to evacuate the FBI’s New York office as the towers fell.
“We found a pay phone, put a quarter in it, and we called our boss from the pay phone,” he said.
In the hours following the attack, with the nation reeling and the perpetrators still unknown, FBI agents across the country mobilized rapidly.
Miami Agents Pivot to Flight School Investigation
Willie Creech, an FBI agent based in Miami, recalled his initial impulse.
“My first thought was, ‘I have to get ready to go to New York,’” said Willie Creech, FBI agent based in Miami.
A phone call to the Miami field office redirected his mission.
“The gist of it was, ‘Hey, I think there’s some people that may be interested in,’ and it was about the flight schools,” said James Kaelin, a new FBI agent in Miami.
Creech remained in Florida, tasked with searching homes, apartments, and any locations the hijackers reportedly frequented for forensic evidence.
“Hairs, fibers, so that we could – things to identify them, but also anything they may have left behind — plans, contacts,” Creech said.
Operations Aboard the USS Intrepid
Back in New York, Koch eventually reported to the FBI’s temporary headquarters established on the docked aircraft carrier Intrepid. The bureau faced an investigation of unprecedented scale.
“They set up computer systems in there. We were there for probably four to six weeks,” Koch said. “Our job was to address all leads; thousands of leads came in from the public.”
Deserted Airports and Surreal Scenes
Kaelin was dispatched to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which stood empty after the nationwide ground stop.
“There was planes abandoned, just on the tarmac, just everywhere, and there was no passengers,” he said. “It was very surreal, and all of the flights internationally were grounded.”
Fresh Kills: Supporting the Investigators
In New York, debris from the towers—twisted metal, crushed vehicles, concrete, personal effects, and human remains—was transported to the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island for meticulous examination. Jeff Green, community relations coordinator from the FBI’s Miami office, was deployed there to support the personnel sifting through the wreckage.
“They couldn’t believe that we, as a nation, were experiencing this, what our country was going to look like, they mentioned that they had families, just, I think, at times overwhelmed,” he said. “We were there just to support them, and oftentimes that meant, ‘Hey, what do you need? Do you need a cup of coffee? Do you need a glass of water?’”
A Fundamental Shift in FBI Mission
For decades, the FBI concentrated primarily on violent crime and white-collar offenses. The 19 hijackers forced a paradigm shift. The bureau established a National Security Division in 2006, and according to the Department of Justice, began hiring analysts and linguists to prioritize prevention.
“I think it changed the mindset of the FBI, and it caused the FBI to evolve, because we had to,” said Brett Skiles, then FBI applicant who is now the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami office.
Enduring Memories of Ground Zero
Despite years of debate and controversy surrounding the response, the weight of responsibility on September 11 remains vivid for those who worked that day.
“I saw human beings jumping. I mean, can you imagine making a decision whether to just be incinerated in the fumes and the heat and the fire? I saw neckties kind of like the one I’m wearing wrapped around these steel pillars,” Koch said. “I’ll never forget that smell, the smell of ground zero, the metallic smell. You know, it was just something I’ll never forget.”
