Histopedia

The 9/11 attacks in New York were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out on September 11, 2001, by al-Qaeda ¹. On that day, four commercial airplanes were hijacked by terrorists. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The impact and subsequent fires caused both towers to collapse, with the South Tower falling at 9:59 a.m. and the North Tower at 10:28 a.m. ¹. In total, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks ¹.

Here are some additional facts about the 9/11 attack:

The Attacks

• Four commercial planes were hijacked:
  • American Airlines Flight 11 (crashed into the North Tower)
  • United Airlines Flight 175 (crashed into the South Tower)
  • American Airlines Flight 77 (crashed into the Pentagon)
  • United Airlines Flight 93 (crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania)
• The attacks occurred on September 11, 2001, between 8:46 a.m. and 10:03 a.m.

World Trade Center

• The Twin Towers collapsed due to structural damage and fires caused by the plane crashes
• 2,753 people died in the World Trade Center, including:
  • 343 firefighters and paramedics
  • 71 law enforcement officers
  • 184 people at the Windows on the World restaurant
• Over 6,000 people were injured

Pentagon

• 125 people died in the Pentagon attack
• The building suffered significant damage, but was repaired and reopened within a year

Flight 93

• 40 passengers and crew members died
• The plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to overcome the hijackers

Aftermath

• Emergency responders and rescue efforts were launched immediately
• The 9/11 attacks led to the launch of the War on Terror and the invasion of Afghanistan
• The USA PATRIOT Act was passed to expand surveillance powers of law enforcement agencies
• The Department of Homeland Security was created to coordinate national efforts to prevent and respond to terrorist threats

Memorials and Legacy

• The National September 11 Memorial & Museum was dedicated in 2014
• The Flight 93 National Memorial was dedicated in 2011
• The Pentagon Memorial was dedicated in 2008
• The 9/11 attacks have had a lasting impact on global politics, international relations, and national security measures.