Sept. 11, 2001: A timeline
At 8:46 a.m. Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines flight 11 from Boston struck the 110-story north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, sending a fireball into the blue sky and a shock wave across the nation.
The scene would be repeated 17 minutes later when United Airlines flight 175, also from Boston, struck the second tower, fire bursting from all sides of the building, raining flaming debris on the streets and people below.
There was little doubt the nation was under attack as the black smoke rose from Manhattan Island, and the horrific scene began to unfold on millions of televisions across the nation.
The attacks continued in Washington, D.C., where American Airlines flight 77 leaving from nearby Dulles Airport with 64 people aboard plowed into the southwest side of the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., just 51 minutes after the first plane struck the World Trade Center.
At 9:59 a.m. the south tower collapsed with hundreds of people who worked there trapped inside along with first responders who were trying to get them out.
Smoke, dust and debris rained down on Manhattan’s streets along with those who perished before the disbelieving eyes of onlookers and Americans from coast to coast.
At 10:03 a.m. on United Airlines flight 93, the 33 passengers learned of events via their cellphones. A group of them attempted to retake the plane from its four hijackers and crashed the jet into the Pennsylvania countryside near Shanksville. The hijackers’ target was unknown but authorities believed it was probably heading for the U.S. Capitol or the White House about 20 minutes away by air.
One passenger’s final words, “Are you ready? OK. Let’s roll,” would become a haunting battle cry in the days to come.
At 10:28 a.m., the World Trade Center’s second tower — north tower — collapsed, inundating Manhattan with dust, smoke and debris for a second time and leaving the New York City skyline and America changed forever.
By noon that day, the dead included 265 people on the four hijacked planes, 2,606 at the World Trade Center and the surrounding area and 184 civilians and service members at the Pentagon. Additionally, 344 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers were among the dead. And all 19 hijackers were dead.
As airborne aircraft were grounded after reaching their destinations, the skies grew quiet.