One investment banker described hearing the news as "getting hit by a two-by-four."

Residents described hearing cracking sounds like gun battles in the woods as trees snapped.

Emergency officials said scores were injured, and witnesses described hearing a loud noise before the crash.

Men and women working in the area later described hearing screams coming from the direction of the bridge at around that time of day.

Later, Churchill described hearing this as the single most shocking moment in his life.

Neighbors described hearing the screams of students pressed against the windows, unable to escape.

They describe hearing their own respiration and sometimes other bodily functions, like heartbeat.

Other neighbors who were awakened by the struggle described hearing a single shot, and then a volley of gunfire.

One woman passenger described hearing a loud sound as the plane landed followed by screaming before her husband managed to open an emergency door.

Five witnesses described hearing what happened through the walls of adjoining rooms.