 The collapse leaves a few lower levels of the stairwell intact, where Jonas, his men, and Josephine are, and they're able to get out. While they survived, thousands perished. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on 9-11, including 343 firefighters and paramedics. Now, almost 18 years later, there is an entire generation that has little connection to the attacks and the horrors that took place that clear September morning.