B-25 Mitchell Bomber Collision with the Empire State Building, July 1945

On July 28, 1945 a B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed into the Empire State Building in heavy fog, killing 14, causing a fire and structural damage between the 78th–80th floors; repairs were made and the building reopened within days.

Coordinates: 40.7484333°N, 73.9856556°W

Overview

On July 28, 1945, a United States Army Air Forces B-25 Mitchell bomber struck the Empire State Building in New York City. The aircraft impacted the tower during heavy fog, causing a fire and structural damage. Fourteen people died as a result of the accident: three occupants of the plane and eleven people inside the building. Property damage was estimated at about $1 million (1945 dollars).

The collision

The bomber hit the skyscraper between the 78th and 80th floors, leaving an opening roughly 18 feet by 20 feet (about 5.5 by 6.1 metres) in the exterior wall. Firefighters contained and extinguished the blaze within approximately 40 minutes. The incident occurred on a Saturday; the building reopened to tenants the following Monday.

Casualties and survival

Fatalities: 14 total — three aircrew and eleven people in the building.
Notable survivor: elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a 75-floor fall after the crash, a fall that is recorded by Guinness as the longest survived inside a falling elevator.

Aftermath

Emergency crews responded quickly to fight fires and evacuate occupants. Repairs were carried out to restore the damaged area, and normal building operations resumed within days. The event received widespread attention at the time and remains one of the most memorable aircraft accidents involving a Manhattan skyscraper.