Full Breakdown
PBS NewsHour Crew Captures the Pentagon Attack on 9/11
9/10/2026, 5:27:54 AM
On the Day the Pentagon Was Hit
Less than an hour after the first plane struck the World Trade Center, a second aircraft crashed into the Pentagon. Two WETA cameramen—Jeff Rathner and Ed Lee—and desk assistant Josh Gershenson were dispatched from the PBS NewsHour studios, located a five-minute drive away. They followed fire engines into the Pentagon’s outer courtyard, arriving within minutes of the impact. The crew pushed past security lines that limited press access, insisting they needed to “cover this story.”
Crew Experiences and Footage
The team described chaotic scenes: bodies scattered near a heliport, a thick black cloud overhead, and flames that “never stopped burning.” The cameramen captured the moment the Pentagon’s wall collapsed and the intense fire that burned for an extended period.
Reflections Twenty-Five Years Later
Now, as the 25th anniversary approaches, the three journalists reflect on the lasting impact of that day. Gershenson kept a clipboard all day, tracking contacts and ensuring they fulfilled their reporting obligations. The crew’s collective memory underscores how the sudden, unprecedented assault on U.S. soil reshaped their perception of news gathering and national security.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I need a desk assistant to go with a cameraman to the Pentagon.” — Pentagon. Josh Gershenson
- “There's another plane coming in. Everybody, run.” — Pentagon
