On the morning of September 11, 2001, Sara Botkin made a decision that would unknowingly alter the course of her life. Instead of heading directly to her office on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower, the then-24-year-old stopped at a music store in the mall beneath the towers to buy a CD.
It was release day for Mariah Carey’s Glitter album, and Botkin—a devoted fan—wanted to be among the first to own it. That brief delay meant she was still in the lobby waiting for an elevator when the first plane struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m.
The 9/11 survivor Sara Botkin would later describe the decision as a matter of timing and luck rather than divine intervention. But the sequence of events that morning—a simple errand, a delayed arrival, and a narrow escape—has become one of the most striking survivor stories to emerge from one of America’s darkest days.
As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2026, Botkin’s story offers a window into how ordinary moments intersected with extraordinary tragedy, and how survival can hinge on the smallest choices.
Who Is Sara Botkin?
Sara Botkin was a 24-year-old aspiring professional singer living in Astoria, Queens, in 2001. A Pittsburgh native, she had graduated from the University of Virginia in 1999 with a degree in music and moved to New York City to pursue a career in performance.
In New York, Botkin sang with prestigious ensembles including the Lincoln Center’s National Chorale and performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Like many artists, she supported herself with temporary office work. At the time of the attacks, she was working as a temp at Aon Corporation, an insurance brokerage firm located on the 105th floor of the South Tower.
Botkin was in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, Ovi Manciu, who worked as a waiter on a cruise ship. The couple saw each other on Saturdays when his ship docked at the port, and Botkin spent her weeks looking forward to those brief visits.
She lived in a “cozy apartment” in Astoria and had a morning routine that typically involved commuting to Lower Manhattan for work. On September 11, 2001, that routine would be interrupted by a decision that would later take on enormous significance.
Where Was Sara Botkin on September 11, 2001?
Botkin’s destination on the morning of September 11 was the South Tower of the World Trade Center—also known as 2 World Trade Center or Two WTC. Her office was located on the 105th floor, where she worked as a financial analyst for Aon Corporation.
Her normal routine would have involved arriving at the World Trade Center complex, passing through the underground concourse and mall area, and taking an elevator to the 105th floor before her 9 a.m. start time.
The World Trade Center complex consisted of twin towers—the North Tower (1 WTC) and the South Tower (2 WTC)—along with several smaller buildings. The towers were connected by an underground concourse that housed shops, restaurants, and services, including a Sam Goody music store.
On this particular morning, Botkin’s plans would take her to that concourse before heading upstairs—a decision that would change everything.
The Mariah Carey CD That Changed Her Morning
Sara Botkin was a lifelong Mariah Carey fan. According to her later interviews, she made it a habit to purchase Carey’s albums on the morning of their release.
September 11, 2001, happened to be the release date for Carey’s eighth studio album, Glitter, which served as the soundtrack to a film of the same name starring Carey. The album was highly anticipated by fans, and Botkin was determined to get her copy.
Making the purchase even more special, Carey had signed a photo and liner notes for Botkin personally because Botkin knew someone who worked at the singer’s label.
“I’m a huge Mariah Carey fan,” Botkin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2007. “I always, always buy her music the morning it’s released. I went to Sam Goody to buy that CD, which was why I was a little behind.”
The Sam Goody store was located in the mall that connected the Twin Towers underground. Botkin stopped there before heading to the elevator bank that would take her to her office on the 105th floor.
The purchase took only a few minutes. But those minutes would prove decisive.
The Morning of September 11
September 11, 2001, began as a clear, beautiful morning in New York City. Botkin remembers stepping out of her apartment into blue skies, with her mind focused on picking up the new Mariah Carey album.
At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11, hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center between floors 93 and 99. The impact severed elevator shafts, trapped hundreds of people above the crash zone, and ignited fires that would eventually cause the tower’s collapse.
Botkin was still in the underground concourse area when the first plane hit. She heard a large crash but wasn’t immediately alarmed. It was only when she saw people beginning to panic that she realized something was seriously wrong.
“There were security guards saying, ‘Stay in the building. Our building is secure. There’s a fire in Tower 1,'” Botkin recalled.
At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower—Botkin’s building—hitting between floors 77 and 85. The impact was below Aon Corporation’s offices on the 105th floor, trapping hundreds of workers above the crash zone.
The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., just 56 minutes after being struck. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m.
Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks, including 176 employees of Aon Corporation—Botkin’s colleagues who had been in the office that morning.
Her Boyfriend Thought She Had Died
For Ovi Manciu, Botkin’s boyfriend at the time, the morning of September 11 was a nightmare of uncertainty and fear.
Manciu knew that Botkin worked in the World Trade Center. He knew she was supposed to be at her office on the 105th floor of the South Tower. When news of the attacks spread, he had every reason to believe she had been inside the building when it was struck.
The hours that followed were agonizing. Phone lines were overwhelmed, cell service was disrupted, and millions of people in New York and beyond were desperately trying to reach loved ones. Manciu had no way of knowing whether Botkin had made it out or whether she was among the thousands trapped inside.
Botkin herself was outside the building by the time the South Tower was struck. After the first plane hit the North Tower, she had followed a group of people who pushed their way out of the building despite security instructions to stay put. Something told her not to listen to the guards who insisted the building was secure.
She made her way back to Queens, but with communication systems overwhelmed, she couldn’t immediately reach Manciu to let him know she was alive.
The Phone Call From Her Mother
The confirmation that Botkin had survived came through her mother.
As Botkin made her way home and Manciu waited in anguish, Botkin’s mother was able to reach him with the news he had been praying for: Sara was alive. She had not been in the tower when it was struck.
The phone call transformed Manciu’s understanding of what had happened. In an instant, the worst fears he had been carrying for hours dissolved into relief.
The emotional weight of that morning would shape their relationship in the months that followed. Two months after the attacks, Botkin left New York City and moved back to Pittsburgh, where she married Manciu.
In a detail that underscores the intensity of that period, Manciu proposed just two weeks after September 11.
How Sara Botkin Survived 9/11
The sequence of events that led to Sara Botkin’s survival can be understood as a chain of timing and decisions:
Planned routine: Botkin was supposed to arrive at her office on the 105th floor of the South Tower before 9 a.m. on September 11, 2001.
The delay: She stopped at the Sam Goody store in the underground mall to purchase Mariah Carey’s Glitter album, which was released that day. This stop delayed her arrival at the elevator bank.
The first attack: At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. Botkin was still in the lobby area, waiting for an elevator.
The decision to leave: Despite security guards instructing people to stay in the building, Botkin followed others who were evacuating. She made it outside before the South Tower was struck.
The second attack: At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower, hitting below the 105th floor where Botkin’s office was located.
The collapse: The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. Botkin was already far from the building.
It is important to understand that the CD itself did not physically protect Botkin. Rather, the timing of her delay meant she was not at her desk on the 105th floor when the plane struck below her. Her survival was the result of being in a different location than she otherwise would have been—a matter of minutes that made an enormous difference.
Botkin herself has been careful about how she describes the events. In a 2023 interview with The Messenger, she said: “I believe it was mostly good luck, and I do think that album may have saved my life.”
She has also expressed discomfort with the idea that divine intervention singled her out for survival while others perished. “I can’t think that it’s a God that would care for all those people who lost their lives,” she told WPXI. “Parents and daughters, mothers and sons. So I thought I was very lucky.”
The World Trade Center and the South Tower
To understand Botkin’s experience, it helps to understand the geography of the World Trade Center complex.
The World Trade Center consisted of seven buildings, but its iconic centerpieces were the Twin Towers: the North Tower (1 WTC) and the South Tower (2 WTC). Both towers stood 110 stories tall and were among the tallest buildings in the world when completed in the early 1970s.
The South Tower, where Botkin worked, was the second tower to be struck on September 11. United Airlines Flight 175 hit the building at 9:03 a.m., crashing into floors 77 through 85. Because the impact was lower than in the North Tower, it severed all escape routes from above, trapping hundreds of workers on higher floors.
Aon Corporation, Botkin’s employer, occupied floors 92, 98, 99, and 100 through 105 in the South Tower. The company lost 176 employees in the attacks—one of the largest single corporate losses of the day.
The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., just 56 minutes after being struck. No one above the impact zone survived.
Sara Botkin’s 9/11 Survivor Story
For Sara Botkin, surviving September 11 was not an ending but a beginning—one shaped by grief, gratitude, and a fundamental reordering of priorities.
In the weeks after the attacks, she left New York City and returned to her hometown of Pittsburgh. She married Ovi Manciu two months after the attacks, and they built a life together in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
Botkin continued to pursue music, performing as a soprano soloist and recording several albums, including a Christmas album that became popular in Pittsburgh-area Borders stores. But she also built a career in financial planning, eventually becoming the owner and president of Botkin Family Wealth Management.
She and Ovi have three children: sons Henry, 16, and Alex, 13, and daughter Charlotte, 7.
In interviews over the years, Botkin has spoken about the lasting impact of September 11. She has described it as “a real turning point” in her life and acknowledged that the anniversary each year brings back difficult memories.
“For me, 9/11 is a memory,” she told People magazine in 2026. “But for so many other people, it’s a nightmare that they haven’t been able to wake up from because they lost people who they loved.”
Every September, Botkin allows herself to “wallow in the grief of just being an American.” She watches footage of the towers falling and listens to the desperate calls placed from inside the buildings that morning.
She has also received a meaningful gesture from Mariah Carey herself. Not long after the attacks, Botkin received a signed Glitter CD and photo from Carey in the mail, with a simple message: “God bless.”
Why the Story Is Resonating 25 Years Later
As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, survivor stories like Sara Botkin’s take on renewed significance.
These accounts preserve individual experiences of a day that is often remembered in statistics and images. They remind us that the nearly 3,000 people who died were individuals with routines, relationships, and plans for the future. They also show how ordinary decisions—a stop at a music store, a delayed elevator—can intersect with historic events in ways no one could predict.
For younger generations who were not alive on September 11, 2001, survivor stories provide a human connection to history. They transform abstract dates into lived experience and help explain why the anniversary continues to matter.
Botkin’s story also highlights the role of chance in survival. Not everyone who was delayed that morning survived; not everyone who arrived on time perished. The randomness of who lived and who died is part of what makes September 11 so difficult to process, even 25 years later.
The Mariah Carey Connection
Mariah Carey’s Glitter album occupies a unique place in pop culture history. Released on September 11, 2001, the album’s launch was completely overshadowed by the terrorist attacks. It became a commercial disappointment and was widely criticized, with some referring to it as Carey’s “worst album.”
In the years since, Glitter has experienced a critical and commercial resurgence. In 2018, fans launched the #JusticeForGlitter campaign, which pushed the album to No. 1 on iTunes and prompted Carey to release it on all digital platforms. She thanked fans for the belated recognition, writing: “A little bit late, but to show my appreciation for #JusticeForGlitter, it’s available everywhere!”
For Botkin, the album holds a different meaning. It is not simply a collection of songs but a reminder of the morning that changed her life. She has said she would tell Carey, “You saved my life.”
The connection between the album and her survival has given Glitter a place in 9/11 survivor lore—a reminder of how cultural moments and personal experiences can become intertwined in unexpected ways.
What Happened to Sara Botkin After 9/11?
After returning to Pittsburgh, Botkin rebuilt her life. She married Ovi Manciu and raised three children. She continued to perform as a soprano soloist while also developing a career in financial planning.
According to biographical information, Botkin graduated with highest honors from Interlochen Arts Academy and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest distinction from the University of Virginia in 1999. She later received an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duquesne University.
She has released three solo recordings and donated CDs to organizations including WQED-FM and the North Hills Food Bank. She has also offered free CDs to military service members in honor of her brother Lester, a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq.
Botkin remains connected to the 9/11 community and has spoken publicly about her experience in interviews marking various anniversaries. Her story has been featured in local and national media, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, WPXI, and People magazine.
She now lives in the Canonsburg area with her family.
Other 9/11 Survivor Stories
Sara Botkin’s experience is one of thousands of survival stories from September 11, 2001. Each survivor carries a unique account of that morning—where they were, how they escaped, and what they lost.
Some survived because they were late to work, like Botkin. Others survived because they were early and had already left the buildings. Still others survived because they were on lower floors and were able to evacuate before the towers collapsed.
These stories collectively capture the randomness and tragedy of the day, as well as the resilience of those who lived through it. They serve as reminders that behind every statistic are individual lives marked by loss, survival, and the determination to carry on.
Timeline
Before September 11, 2001
Sara Botkin works as a temp at Aon Corporation on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower. She lives in Astoria, Queens, and aspires to a career as a professional singer.
Morning of September 11, 2001
Botkin leaves her apartment in Queens with plans to stop at the Sam Goody store in the World Trade Center mall to buy Mariah Carey’s Glitter album, which is released that day.
CD Purchase and Delay
Botkin stops at Sam Goody and purchases the Glitter CD before heading to the elevator bank to go to her office. The stop delays her arrival upstairs.
8:46 a.m.
American Airlines Flight 11 strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Botkin is still in the lobby area.
9:03 a.m.
United Airlines Flight 175 strikes the South Tower, hitting below the 105th floor where Botkin works. Botkin has already evacuated the building.
9:59 a.m.
The South Tower collapses. Botkin is safely away from the area.
10:28 a.m.
The North Tower collapses.
Later That Morning
Botkin’s mother contacts Ovi Manciu to confirm that Sara is alive.
Two Weeks Later
Ovi Manciu proposes to Botkin.
Two Months Later
Botkin leaves New York City and returns to Pittsburgh, where she marries Manciu.
2001–Present
Botkin builds a career in financial planning while continuing to perform as a soprano soloist. She and Ovi have three children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sara Botkin?
Sara Botkin is a 9/11 survivor who was working as a temp at Aon Corporation on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower on September 11, 2001. She now lives in Pennsylvania, where she works as a financial advisor and continues to perform as a soprano soloist.
How did Sara Botkin survive 9/11?
Botkin survived because she was delayed in arriving at her office. She stopped at the Sam Goody store in the World Trade Center mall to buy Mariah Carey’s Glitter album, which was released that day. This delay meant she was still in the lobby when the first plane struck and was able to evacuate before the South Tower was hit.
What Mariah Carey CD was involved in Sara Botkin’s story?
The CD was Mariah Carey’s Glitter, which was released on September 11, 2001. Botkin was a longtime fan of Carey and made a habit of buying her albums on release day.
Where was Sara Botkin on September 11, 2001?
Botkin was at the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. She was in the underground mall/concourse area, having just purchased the Glitter CD, when the first plane struck the North Tower.
Was Sara Botkin supposed to be at the World Trade Center?
Yes. Botkin worked at Aon Corporation on the 105th floor of the South Tower. She was scheduled to be at her desk by 9 a.m. on September 11, 2001.
What happened to the South Tower on 9/11?
The South Tower was struck by United Airlines Flight 175 at 9:03 a.m. The plane hit between floors 77 and 85, below the 105th floor where Botkin worked. The tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m.
Why is Sara Botkin’s story being discussed again in 2026?
Botkin’s story is receiving renewed attention as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Her story—how a simple stop to buy a CD changed her timing and ultimately spared her life—continues to resonate with audiences.
What is the connection between Mariah Carey and Sara Botkin’s 9/11 story?
Botkin stopped to buy Carey’s Glitter album on the morning of September 11, 2001, which delayed her arrival at her office. Carey later sent Botkin a signed CD and photo with the message “God bless.” Botkin has said she would tell Carey, “You saved my life.”