Rare footage of 9/11 from helicopter people have 'never seen' shows horrific new angle of terror attack

People on social media insisted they have never seen this helicopter footage of the Twin Towers that was released showing the towers before they had collapsed.

September 11 happened over 20 years ago, but the day still remains a crucial moment in American history that has long horrified people.

Back in 2001, on this date, four coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by Islamist extremist group Al-Qaeda and caused an unprecedented loss of life. The terrorists flew two into the Twin Towers in New York and one into the Pentagon - killing almost 3,000 people and injuring thousands.

This has long been considered the most deadly attack on American soil.

There are images and videos of these events that have been seen by millions across the world, but many are not aware of helicopter footage that was released ten years after the attack, in 2011.

The footage was shot by a police helicopter crew and showed those aboard getting dangerously close to the buildings, which had already been struck.

It was obtained by The National Institute of Standards and Technology from the New York Police Department during its investigation into the structural collapse of the Twin Towers.

It was also featured in the National Geographic 9/11: One Day in America documentary back in 2021.

I've watched loads of documentaries about 9/11 since 2001. I've never seen these images from the helicopter before (none that I can remember anyway). These are pretty crystal clear considering the technology at the time.

Can anyone else rememeber seeing this footage? pic.twitter.com/P83CaFS9I9

— Sassy red socks (@Twitawoo8) May 27, 2025

This footage has also made its way to social media, with many remarking they had never seen despite being well aware of the attack.

Following the attacks, the airspace over the towers was closed to news helicopters, so very little arial footage has emerged over the years.

One user who was stunned by the footage commented on Twitter: “I was there, and like the rest of the world, watching everything I could find, and no, I never saw this video. I do know that on that day, only police helicopters were flying.”

Another said: “I've watched tons of 9/11 footage on YouTube, have never seen anything like this clip from a helicopter above.”

With a third simply stating: “I've seen a lot, but not this.”

The footage shows the helicopter get almost close enough to land on the roof on one of the burning towers as smoke billows into the sky.

The helicopter was also in the sky when the first tower collapsed and the shocked comments from those aboard can be heard, as well as their fears the second tower could collapse.