On September 11th, 2001, the world was changed forever. Four airlines were hijacked by members of/people affiliated with the extremist Islamic terrorist group; al-Qaeda. The September 11 attacks are the most devastating terrorist attacks in the world's history, killing approximately 3,000 people and caused about $10 billion worth of property and infrastructural damage. Two commercial airliners were deliberately flown into the World Trade Center Towers (twin towers) in New York City, a third plane - was flown into the Pentagon (headquarters of the United States Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, killing 125 Pentagon personnel and all 64 people on board the flight. The fourth plane however, was originally intended to strike the United States Capitol, but instead crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania due to the passengers on the aircraft trying to overcome the hijackers. This tragic event has become commonly known around the world as '9/11'.
At 7:59am on the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001; American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 carrying 81 passengers and 11 crew members, departs 14 minutes late from Logan International Airport in Boston, for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). At approximately 8:13am, American Airlines Flight 11 had its last routine contact with the FAA's Boston Center. Statements have been made that this is when the hijacking of the flight begun, when the hijackers Waleed and Wail al-Shehri rise from seats 2A and 2B and stab two flight attendants. Mohamed Atta then rises from seat 8D and approaches the cockpit. Within minutes, he is at the controls. While this is all going on, there is a second plane - United Airlines Flight 175, another fully fueled Boeing 767, carrying 56 passengers and nine crew members, also departs from Logan International Airport in Boston; its destination too was LAX. Five hijackers are aboard this flight, one of them communicated with Mohammed Atta shortly before American Airlines Flight 11's takeoff. At 8:19am, Betty Ong - a flight attendant on board American Airlines Flight 11 panicked and alerted American Airlines via air phone; "The cockpit is not answering, somebody’s stabbed in business class—and I think there’s Mace—that we can’t breathe—I don’t know, I think we’re getting hijacked.” She then informs American Airlines of the stabbings of two flight attendants. After this, the five hijackers turned off the plane's transponder and then sent a message to Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) which was only intended for the cabin; "Eh..... We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you'll be okay. We are returning to the airport." it is believed that Atta mistakenly pressed a button which directed his voice to radio rather than to the cabin. Just a few seconds later, Atta's voice says "nobody move. Everything will be okay. If you try to make any moves, you'll endanger yourself and the airplane. Just stay quiet". At 8:46am on September 11, 2001; hijacked American Flight 11 plummets into the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC), between floors 93 and 99 at approximately 790km/h. Everybody on the plane was killed instantly, along with those people on floors 93-99 of the North Tower.
The second hijacking was of United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767 carrying 56 passengers and nine crew members. Flight 175 took off from Logan International Airport in Boston; it too was headed for Los Angeles. There were five hijackers aboard this flight, also believed to be members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. It is also said that one of those five hijackers communicated with Mohammed Atta (one of the five hijackers on board American Airlines Flight 11) shortly before American Airlines Flight 11's takeoff. At 8:37am, United Airlines Flight 175 confirmed a sighting of American Airlines Flight 11 to flight controllers, the hijacked plane was roughly 10km (16 miles) to the South of United Airlines Flight 175. Soon after, between 8:42-8:46am, United Airlines Flight 175 is hijacked. These hijackers were believed to have used knives, mace and threatening the use of bombs on the passengers on board the flight. They used the knives to stab the flight attendants aboard the flight, the two pilots were also killed. At 8:58am, Flight 175 took a turn off course just like American Airlines Flight 11, and headed for New York City. Just five minutes later at 9:03am, United Airlines Flight 175 crashes at approximately 950km/h into the South Tower of the WTC between floors 77 and 85. Just like American Airlines Flight 11, all people on board the flight were killed instantly on impact along with the unknown hundreds of people on floors 77-85. Due to the first attack occurring earlier, there were many broadcasting networks and media organizations covering the terrifying sight of the attack, which resulted in millions of television viewers witnessing the second attack first hand.
The destruction of the twin towers had a huge impact on people in New York especially, but also everyone else in the world. People in the towers themselves were so frightened they felt they were forced to jump what could have been hundreds of floors to their death. After the plane struck the second tower, the streets of New York were filled with silver clouds of sobering smoke. The atmosphere was filled with an eerie sadness and heartbreak. It took a total of just 56 minutes for the South Tower of the WTC to collapse after the impact of United Airlines Flight 175 and a total of 102 minutes for the North Tower to collapse after being struck by American Airlines Flight 11. Apparently, it took no longer than 12 seconds for the towers to fall.
At 7:59am on the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001; American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 carrying 81 passengers and 11 crew members, departs 14 minutes late from Logan International Airport in Boston, for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). At approximately 8:13am, American Airlines Flight 11 had its last routine contact with the FAA's Boston Center. Statements have been made that this is when the hijacking of the flight begun, when the hijackers Waleed and Wail al-Shehri rise from seats 2A and 2B and stab two flight attendants. Mohamed Atta then rises from seat 8D and approaches the cockpit. Within minutes, he is at the controls. While this is all going on, there is a second plane - United Airlines Flight 175, another fully fueled Boeing 767, carrying 56 passengers and nine crew members, also departs from Logan International Airport in Boston; its destination too was LAX. Five hijackers are aboard this flight, one of them communicated with Mohammed Atta shortly before American Airlines Flight 11's takeoff. At 8:19am, Betty Ong - a flight attendant on board American Airlines Flight 11 panicked and alerted American Airlines via air phone; "The cockpit is not answering, somebody’s stabbed in business class—and I think there’s Mace—that we can’t breathe—I don’t know, I think we’re getting hijacked.” She then informs American Airlines of the stabbings of two flight attendants. After this, the five hijackers turned off the plane's transponder and then sent a message to Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) which was only intended for the cabin; "Eh..... We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you'll be okay. We are returning to the airport." it is believed that Atta mistakenly pressed a button which directed his voice to radio rather than to the cabin. Just a few seconds later, Atta's voice says "nobody move. Everything will be okay. If you try to make any moves, you'll endanger yourself and the airplane. Just stay quiet". At 8:46am on September 11, 2001; hijacked American Flight 11 plummets into the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC), between floors 93 and 99 at approximately 790km/h. Everybody on the plane was killed instantly, along with those people on floors 93-99 of the North Tower.
The second hijacking was of United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767 carrying 56 passengers and nine crew members. Flight 175 took off from Logan International Airport in Boston; it too was headed for Los Angeles. There were five hijackers aboard this flight, also believed to be members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. It is also said that one of those five hijackers communicated with Mohammed Atta (one of the five hijackers on board American Airlines Flight 11) shortly before American Airlines Flight 11's takeoff. At 8:37am, United Airlines Flight 175 confirmed a sighting of American Airlines Flight 11 to flight controllers, the hijacked plane was roughly 10km (16 miles) to the South of United Airlines Flight 175. Soon after, between 8:42-8:46am, United Airlines Flight 175 is hijacked. These hijackers were believed to have used knives, mace and threatening the use of bombs on the passengers on board the flight. They used the knives to stab the flight attendants aboard the flight, the two pilots were also killed. At 8:58am, Flight 175 took a turn off course just like American Airlines Flight 11, and headed for New York City. Just five minutes later at 9:03am, United Airlines Flight 175 crashes at approximately 950km/h into the South Tower of the WTC between floors 77 and 85. Just like American Airlines Flight 11, all people on board the flight were killed instantly on impact along with the unknown hundreds of people on floors 77-85. Due to the first attack occurring earlier, there were many broadcasting networks and media organizations covering the terrifying sight of the attack, which resulted in millions of television viewers witnessing the second attack first hand.
The destruction of the twin towers had a huge impact on people in New York especially, but also everyone else in the world. People in the towers themselves were so frightened they felt they were forced to jump what could have been hundreds of floors to their death. After the plane struck the second tower, the streets of New York were filled with silver clouds of sobering smoke. The atmosphere was filled with an eerie sadness and heartbreak. It took a total of just 56 minutes for the South Tower of the WTC to collapse after the impact of United Airlines Flight 175 and a total of 102 minutes for the North Tower to collapse after being struck by American Airlines Flight 11. Apparently, it took no longer than 12 seconds for the towers to fall.
The third hijacking was of American Airlines Flight 77; a Boeing 757 carrying 58 passengers and six crew members. This flight departed from Washington Dulles International Airport in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, Virginia for LAX at 8:20am. Just like the other two flights, there were five hijackers aboard. Somewhere between 8:50-8:54am, Flight 77 was hijacked and just like the other two fatal flights, the use of mace and knives were imminent. Just after the hijacking occurred, American Airlines Flight 77 deviates from its assigned course turning south over Ohio. 10 minutes after the North Tower of the WTC was hit, the hijackers turn off Flight 77's transponder and even primary radar contact with the aircraft is lost which is unlike the other two hijacked planes. Flight 77 then turns east which goes unnoticed by flight controllers due to the radar blackout. When the radar is finally restored at 9:05am, flight controllers desperately search west of Flight 77's previous position but are unable to find it. American Airlines Flight 77 flies undetected for a total of 36 minutes, heading due east towards the Nation's Capitol - Washington D.C. At 9:37am, American Airlines Flight 77 strikes the western side of the Pentagon at 835km/h, starting a blazing fire. All 64 people on board the flight are killed, along with 125 Pentagon personnel.
The final hijacking was on United Airlines Flight 93; another Boeing 757 which departed from Newark International Airport (now Newark Liberty International Airport) for San Francisco International Airport at 8:42am, 40 minutes late due to congested runways. It's initial flight path takes it close to the World Trade Center which at this time is three minutes away from being struck. The four hijackers aboard this flight take over the controls at 9:28am, this hijacking is overheard by flight controllers in Cleveland: "ladies and gentlemen, here is the captain... please sit down... keep remaining sitting. We have a bomb on board". Flight 93 then reverses over Ohio and starts flying towards the east. After some passengers on board the flight phoned their families and learned of the attacks in New York City, the passengers on board the plane decide to fight back against the hijackers - this passenger revolt begins at 9:57am. Sadly, at 10:03am, United Airlines Flight 93 is crashed by it's hijackers and passengers at 926km/h due to fighting in the cockpit, near Shanskville, Pennsylvania.
After the investigation of the attacks begun, the 19 hijackers were identified and they were all in fact a part of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. Their leader Osama Bin Laden, a very wanted man by the United States Government was found in hiding on May 2nd 2011, and was then executed by US troops.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in the deaths of about 3,000 innocent people. 9/11 made everyone in the United States and all around the world aware of terrorism and caused sadness and heartbreak for a very long time. Even today, 13 years since the devastating attacks, pain and sorrow is all that is felt when the topic comes up. It was a very sobering event in the world's history and will never be forgotten.
The final hijacking was on United Airlines Flight 93; another Boeing 757 which departed from Newark International Airport (now Newark Liberty International Airport) for San Francisco International Airport at 8:42am, 40 minutes late due to congested runways. It's initial flight path takes it close to the World Trade Center which at this time is three minutes away from being struck. The four hijackers aboard this flight take over the controls at 9:28am, this hijacking is overheard by flight controllers in Cleveland: "ladies and gentlemen, here is the captain... please sit down... keep remaining sitting. We have a bomb on board". Flight 93 then reverses over Ohio and starts flying towards the east. After some passengers on board the flight phoned their families and learned of the attacks in New York City, the passengers on board the plane decide to fight back against the hijackers - this passenger revolt begins at 9:57am. Sadly, at 10:03am, United Airlines Flight 93 is crashed by it's hijackers and passengers at 926km/h due to fighting in the cockpit, near Shanskville, Pennsylvania.
After the investigation of the attacks begun, the 19 hijackers were identified and they were all in fact a part of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. Their leader Osama Bin Laden, a very wanted man by the United States Government was found in hiding on May 2nd 2011, and was then executed by US troops.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in the deaths of about 3,000 innocent people. 9/11 made everyone in the United States and all around the world aware of terrorism and caused sadness and heartbreak for a very long time. Even today, 13 years since the devastating attacks, pain and sorrow is all that is felt when the topic comes up. It was a very sobering event in the world's history and will never be forgotten.