The Event of 9/11

Summary

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Often referred to as 9/11, the attacks resulted in extensive death and destruction, triggering major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defining the presidency of George W. Bush. Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters.

5:45 amHijackers Pass Security Screening

Hijackers Mohammed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari pass through security at Portland International Jetport in Maine. They board a shuttle flight to Boston's Logan International Airport, where they connect to Los Angeles-bound American Airlines Flight 11.Over the next hour and a half, seventeen other hijackers clear security checks at Logan Airport, Newark International Airport, and Washington Dulles Airport. All presumably carry knives, box cutters or other concealed weapons on their person or in carry-on luggage. Although eight are randomly tagged for additional screening and a gate agent flags two as suspicious, none are prevented from boarding their intended flights.

Flights Take Off

Seventy-six passengers, 11 crew members and five hijackers board Flight 11. In industry terms, the Los Angeles-bound flight is "riding heavy," stocked with 76,400 pounds of fuel for its transcontinental run.Al Qaeda terrorists hijack the plane at approximately 8:14 am and reroute it towards Manhattan, using the Hudson River as a navigational guide.Courtesy of the US Department of Justice

Fifty-one passengers, nine crew members, and five hijackers board Los Angeles-bound Flight 175. Al Qaeda terrorists hijack the plane at approximately 8:45 am and reroute it towards Manhattan.Courtesy of the US Department of Justice

American Airlines Flight 77, en route to Los Angeles, departs Washington Dulles International Airport ten minutes delayed. (8:20 am)

United Airlines Flight 93 departs Newark International Airport after a lengthy air traffic delay on the tarmac. Flight 93 was scheduled to leave Newark at 8:00 am, within minutes of the other hijacked flights.

8:46 amCrash of Flight 11

Hijackers crash Flight 11 into floors 93-99 of the World Trade Center's North Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds within the building.

9:02 amSouth Tower Evacuation Order

Three minutes after initiating the evacuation of the South Tower, the Port Authority broadcasts evacuation orders over the Tower public adress system. An estimated 10,000 to14,000 people are already evacuating the World Trade Center.

Hijackers crash Flight 175 into floors 77 to 85 of the World Trade Center's South Tower, killing everyone on the plane and hundreds inside the building. During its final nose dive, the plane lost altitude at a rate of approximately 5,000 feet per minute. (9:03 am)

9:15 amEvacuation of the World Trade Center

As first responders arrive and deploy into the stricken buildings, tenants continue to evacuate the North and South Towers. Hijacked Flight 11 severed all three North Tower emergency stairwells, making evacuation impossible for those alive on or above the impact floors. One stairwell in the South Tower remains passable, although it is choked with debris. Eighteen use it to evacuate from above the impact zone.

9:37 amCrash of Flight 77

Hijackers crash Flight 77 into the Pentagon’s western facade, killing the 59 on board the plane and 125 military and civilian personnel inside the building. A hundred and six are severely injured in the ensuing fire.

9:57 amFight for Flight 93

Thirteen of Flight 93's 40 passengers and crew managed to alert loved ones and authorities to the plane’s hijacking. At least six learn about the attacks on the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. In response, Flight 93's passengers are believed to have collectively voted to mount a counterattack to the hijackers.

To prevent passengers from retaking the airplane, hijackers deliberately crash Flight 93 in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing the forty on board. The crash site is approximately 20 minutes flying time from Washington DC (10:03 am)

Collapsing of the Buildings

After burning for 56 minutes, the South Tower collapses in 10 seconds, killing approximately 600 workers and first responders in the building and surrounding area. (9:59 am)

The damaged section of the Pentagon's outermost offices, known as the E Ring, collapses. No rescue workers are injured. (10:15 am)

The North Tower collapses after burning for 102 minutes, killing approximately 1,400 in the building and the surrounding area. (10:28 am)

Other Evacuations of Buildings

The New York City Office of Emergency Management evacuates their headquarters at 7 WTC after the Secret Service warns them about additional hijacked planes believed to be heading for New York. (9:30 am)

Secret Service agents evacuate U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and aides from his office in the White House to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a Cold War-era bunker beneath the White House. (9:36 am)

Evacuations begin at the White House and U.S. capital building (9:45 am)

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani calls for the evacuation of over one million residents, workers and tourists from lower Manhattan. (11:02 am)

9-11 Quotes

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic, and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.”

-Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York City “You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over

this tragedy.”

-Colin Powell “For me and my family personally, September 11 was a

reminder that life is fleeting, impermanent, and uncertain. Therefore, we must make use of every moment and nurture it with affection, tenderness, beauty, creativity, and laughter.”

-Deepak Chopra, M.D.

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Hyperlinks used for this PowerPoint

http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks

http://timeline.national911memorial.org/#/Explore/2