On the morning of September 11, 2001, New Yorkers awoke to clear skies and warm, late-summer sunshine. It was an ordinary Tuesday, and people were preparing for another typical day of work and school.
Thousands made their way to the World Trade Center, a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan, including two iconic skyscrapers known as the Twin Towers. Each tower stood 110 stories tall and soared about 1,360 feet into the sky—then the tallest structures in New York City. No one could have imagined that by the end of that day, both towers would be reduced to rubble.
In a city accustomed to the sound of planes overhead, something about that morning felt different. People paused on sidewalks and peered into the sky. The roar of a low-flying aircraft grew louder—too loud—and in a shocking moment, an airplane crashed directly into one of the Twin Towers.
At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the north tower, tearing a massive gash between the 93rd and 99th floors. Flames and thick smoke billowed from the building. At first, many assumed it was a tragic accident—until, just 17 minutes later, a second aircraft struck the south tower.
United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into floors 77 to 85 at 9:03 a.m. This second impact was caught live on cameras and broadcast repeatedly across TV screens. The country quickly realized these were no accidents. Hijackers—armed attackers who seize control of vehicles—had taken over both flights and intentionally flown them into the towers.
It became clear: the United States was under a coordinated attack. Less than 30 minutes after the second plane hit New York, a third jetliner, American Airlines Flight 77, was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon—the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters—in Arlington, Virginia. The crash sent fireballs into the air and tore a hole into the side of the building.
The government swiftly ordered all aircraft in U.S. airspace to land immediately. However, it was already too late for one more plane—United Airlines Flight 93. Hijackers had taken over the flight and were heading toward Washington, D.C.
Onboard, passengers and crew made desperate phone calls to their loved ones, learning about the other attacks. Realizing their plane might also be used as a weapon, they bravely fought back. During the struggle, passenger Todd Beamer was heard saying the now-famous words: “Are you ready? OK, let’s roll.”
Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, narrowly missing what many believe was its intended target—a government building in the nation’s capital.
In New York, panic and chaos filled the streets as dark smoke poured from the towers. Thousands fled the area, later called Ground Zero. First responders—firefighters, police officers, EMTs—rushed to the scene, risking their lives. Despite collapsed elevators and blocked stairways, they climbed floor after floor to reach those trapped inside.
The force of the plane crashes caused irreparable damage. Floors were shattered, and steel beams were severed. Fires fueled by jet fuel raged uncontrollably. Eventually, the intense heat weakened the buildings’ structures.
The south tower was the first to fall. In just ten seconds, it crumbled. The north tower followed 29 minutes later.
Thanks to the bravery of rescue workers, over 25,000 people were able to evacuate. Yet nearly 3,000 individuals lost their lives in the attacks that day—passengers, workers, first responders, and others at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard the four planes.