On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers took control of four commercial passenger jets flying out of airports on the east coast of the United States. Two of the aircraft were deliberately flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. A third hit the Pentagon. The fourth plane never reached its intended target, crashing in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the passengers and crew overpowered some of the hijackers and attempted to retake control of the plane.
The Twin Towers
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m., an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, leaving a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper and instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. This tower, along with its twin, were immediately evacuated. At first, it appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767–United Airlines Flight 175–appeared and, turning sharply toward the World Trade Center, slammed into the south tower near the 60th floor. As debris from the massive explosion that followed showered over surrounding buildings and the streets below, it became shockingly clear; the United States was under attack.
At approximately 10:00 a.m., as millions looked on in horror, the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed in a massive cloud of dust and smoke. The structural steel of the skyscraper, built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and a large fire, could not withstand the tremendous heat generated by the burning jet fuel. At 10:30 a.m., the north tower collapsed, as well. Close to 3,000 people died in the World Trade Center and its vicinity, including a staggering 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers who were struggling to complete an evacuation of the buildings and save the office workers trapped on higher floors. Only six people in the World Trade Center towers at the time of their collapse survived. Almost 10,000 others were treated for injuries, many severe.
At approximately 10:00 a.m., as millions looked on in horror, the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed in a massive cloud of dust and smoke. The structural steel of the skyscraper, built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and a large fire, could not withstand the tremendous heat generated by the burning jet fuel. At 10:30 a.m., the north tower collapsed, as well. Close to 3,000 people died in the World Trade Center and its vicinity, including a staggering 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers who were struggling to complete an evacuation of the buildings and save the office workers trapped on higher floors. Only six people in the World Trade Center towers at the time of their collapse survived. Almost 10,000 others were treated for injuries, many severe.
Pentagon
As people all over the world watched the events unfolding at the World Trade Center, American Airlines Flight 77, which had departed from Dulles International Airport and was bound for Los Angeles, circled over downtown Washington, D.C. and then slammed into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters at 9:45 a.m. Jet fuel caused a devastating inferno that led to the structural collapse of a portion of the giant concrete building. In this attack on 9/11, 125 military personnel and civilians were killed, along with all 64 people aboard the airliner.
Pennsylvania
Meanwhile, a fourth plane–United Flight 93–was hijacked about 40 minutes after leaving Newark International Airport in New Jersey, headed for California. The plane had been delayed in taking off, so the passengers on the plane knew about the attacks in New York and Washington. When those on board realized their plane had been hijacked, a group of passengers and flight attendants planned to fight back. One of the passengers, Thomas Burnett Jr., told his wife over the phone that "I know we're all going to die. There's three of us who are going to do something about it. I love you, honey." Another passenger–Todd Beamer–was heard saying "Are you guys ready? Let's roll." over an open line. Sandy Bradshaw, a flight attendant, called her husband and explained that she had slipped into a galley and was filling pitchers with boiling water. Her last words to him were "Everyone's running to first class. I've got to go. Bye."
The passengers fought the four hijackers, possibly with a fire extinguisher, and forced their way into the cockpit. The plane then flipped over and sped toward the ground at more than 500 miles per hour as the hijackers fought with the passengers and crew members for control of the plane. The plane crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. All 45 people aboard were killed. Its intended target is not known, but theories include the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Camp David presidential retreat in the mountains of western Maryland, or one of several nuclear power plants along the eastern seaboard.
The passengers fought the four hijackers, possibly with a fire extinguisher, and forced their way into the cockpit. The plane then flipped over and sped toward the ground at more than 500 miles per hour as the hijackers fought with the passengers and crew members for control of the plane. The plane crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. All 45 people aboard were killed. Its intended target is not known, but theories include the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Camp David presidential retreat in the mountains of western Maryland, or one of several nuclear power plants along the eastern seaboard.