9/11 flight path diagram
On September 11, 2001 four planes were hijacked by “al-Qaeda” in a coordinated terrorist attack. Two planes, Flights 11 and 175, crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center at 8:46 am and 9:03 am. At 9:37 am, Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. Flight 93, which took off at 8:42 am from Newark, was headed for San Francisco but was hijacked around 9:28 AM. Passengers fought back at 9:57 am, leading to the plane crashing in Pennsylvania at 10:03 am, just 18 minutes from Washington, D.C.
crash sites:
Plane Diverts and hits WTC (World Trade Center)
After two hijacked planes (American Airlines Flight 11: Boeing 767 – 223ER and United Airlines Flight 175: Boeing 767 – 222) struck the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11, The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 AM, followed by the North Tower at 10:28 AM.
Flight 77 crashed into Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia Washington D.C.
After the hijacking of Flight 77, the plane was turned toward Washington, D.C., and at 9:37 AM, it crashed into the Pentagon. The impact killed all 64 on board and 125 people inside.
Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania Washington D.C.
Passengers learned about the other attacks and tried to retake the plane. It’s believed the hijackers were aiming for a target in Washington, D.C. possibly the White House but the passengers’ bravery stopped them.
The World Reacts
President George W. Bush (on the night of 9/11):
“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings but they cannot touch the foundation of America.”
A New York firefighter (anonymous):
“We didn’t think, we just ran in. There were people who needed help.”
A survivor, escaping the Twin Towers:
“I turned around and the building was just… gone. There was nothing but smoke and silence.”
Firefighter Daniel Suhr, one of the first to die: He reportedly told a colleague,
“We have to go in there are people trapped.” (He was struck by falling debris and died a hero.)
FAQs
Q: Who was responsible for the 9/11 attacks?
The 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaeda, a militant Islamist extremist organization led by Osama bin Laden.
Q: How did the 9/11 attacks change the global politics?
The events of September 11, 2001, triggered the launch of the War on Terror, a global military effort to combat terrorism and brought about major shifts in security practices and international diplomacy.
Q: How did the 9/11 attacks affect air travel?
September 11, 2001, brought major changes to air travel security, such as the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the implementation of stricter airport screening procedures.
Q: How do people commemorate the 9/11 attacks?
Each year on September 11, the attacks are remembered through memorial services and tributes held at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.
