Owen J. Quinn
Encyclopedia
Owen J. Quinn was the first person to successfully parachute
off one of the World Trade Center
towers.
, Quinn claims that his first memories were of "how it all got bad very quick". His mother grew sick and was hospitalized for a long stretch of time and finances for the family were low so his father had to place him and his sister in an orphanage for six years. Later on, when his mother got well, the family moved to Highbridge
together. Even though things were looking up, they were still tough. Quinn got into trouble running the streets of Highbridge and hated school (he went to two different high schools), so at only 15 years of age he began working.
After traveling the world (twice), marriage (in 1962) and a tour of duty with the Merchant Navy in Vietnam
(in 1966), Quinn decided to settle down after his first child was born, and went into construction. He soon got a job with the dock builders' union, working at the World Trade Center. He claims to have been inspired after seeing a model of the WTC, not paying much attention to the grandness of such an architectural achievement, but the great BASE jumping
opportunity that it offered. By that time, Quinn had long ago had his first taste of parachuting and absolutely loved it and wanted to die doing it. So, with more than 850 jumps and a jump-master license under his belt in July 1975, he was ready.
, Quinn disguised himself as a construction worker and hid his parachute in a duffel bag (covered with tools) and made his way up the North Tower. They were met by a security guard, and while Sergio distracted him, Quinn continued toward the roof and got into his parachute. Quinn says he "stepped back about 15 feet and ran fast right to the end". Sergio shot a picture and called it "The Point of No Return". Quinn wore a blue football jersey with the biblical verse, Matthew 19:26: "But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible".
When he landed, he was arrested by Port Authority Police and taken for psychiatric exams at two different hospitals, Elmhurst and St. Vincent
. When it was concluded that he was in fact sane, he was booked and charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct
, and reckless endangerment. Within the course of a year Quinn made 19 appearances in court, but the case was eventually dropped.
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
off one of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
towers.
The beginning
In an interview with C. J. Sullivan of the New York PressNew York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
, Quinn claims that his first memories were of "how it all got bad very quick". His mother grew sick and was hospitalized for a long stretch of time and finances for the family were low so his father had to place him and his sister in an orphanage for six years. Later on, when his mother got well, the family moved to Highbridge
Highbridge, Bronx
Highbridge is a residential neighborhood geographically located in the Southwestern section of The Bronx, New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 4. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the north, Jerome Avenue to...
together. Even though things were looking up, they were still tough. Quinn got into trouble running the streets of Highbridge and hated school (he went to two different high schools), so at only 15 years of age he began working.
After traveling the world (twice), marriage (in 1962) and a tour of duty with the Merchant Navy in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
(in 1966), Quinn decided to settle down after his first child was born, and went into construction. He soon got a job with the dock builders' union, working at the World Trade Center. He claims to have been inspired after seeing a model of the WTC, not paying much attention to the grandness of such an architectural achievement, but the great BASE jumping
BASE jumping
BASE jumping, also sometimes written as B.A.S.E jumping, is an activity that employs an initially packed parachute to jump from fixed objects...
opportunity that it offered. By that time, Quinn had long ago had his first taste of parachuting and absolutely loved it and wanted to die doing it. So, with more than 850 jumps and a jump-master license under his belt in July 1975, he was ready.
The jump
On July 22, with his friend Mike SergioMichael Sergio
Michael Sergio is an actor, most famous for parachuting into Shea Stadium during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, wearing a sign proclaiming "Let's Go Mets". Immediately arrested, Sergio spent a short time in prison, because he would not reveal the name of the pilot who flew him over Queens that...
, Quinn disguised himself as a construction worker and hid his parachute in a duffel bag (covered with tools) and made his way up the North Tower. They were met by a security guard, and while Sergio distracted him, Quinn continued toward the roof and got into his parachute. Quinn says he "stepped back about 15 feet and ran fast right to the end". Sergio shot a picture and called it "The Point of No Return". Quinn wore a blue football jersey with the biblical verse, Matthew 19:26: "But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible".
When he landed, he was arrested by Port Authority Police and taken for psychiatric exams at two different hospitals, Elmhurst and St. Vincent
Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers ' was a healthcare system, anchored by its flagship hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, locally referred to as "St. Vincent's". St. Vincent's was founded in 1849 and closed in 2010...
. When it was concluded that he was in fact sane, he was booked and charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
, and reckless endangerment. Within the course of a year Quinn made 19 appearances in court, but the case was eventually dropped.
See also
- BASE jumpingBASE jumpingBASE jumping, also sometimes written as B.A.S.E jumping, is an activity that employs an initially packed parachute to jump from fixed objects...
- World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
- http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068903/index.htm