Nation From the archives | Man survived 900-foot elevator drop on 9/11: ‘I got a second chance on life’ September 5, 2021 Dennis Cauchon and Martha T. Moore Comments Off on From the archives | Man survived 900-foot elevator drop on 9/11: ‘I got a second chance on life’ When the first plane hit the north tower on September 11, Alan Mann moved to escape the south tower via elevator. Then the car began a free fall.