What Happened on 9/11?

Overview

On September 11, 2001, terrorists from the group al-Qaeda hijacked four planes and carried out coordinated attacks in the United States.

Timeline of the Attacks

8:46 AM – American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM – United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower.
9:37 AM – American Airlines Flight 77 hits the Pentagon.
9:59 AM – South Tower collapses.
10:03 AM – United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back.
10:28 AM – North Tower collapses.

Casualties

A total of 2,977 victims died (not including the 19 hijackers):

2,753 in New York City (World Trade Center)
184 at the Pentagon
40 in Pennsylvania (Flight 93)
Included among the victims:

343 firefighters
72 law enforcement officers
55 military personnel

Who Was Behind the Attack?

The terrorist group al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, planned and carried out the attacks. Their reasons included opposition to U.S. military presence in the Middle East and American foreign policies.

🟥 The Man in the Red Bandana

Welles Crowther was a 24-year-old working in the South Tower. During the chaos, he guided people to safety — wearing a red bandana over his face to protect himself from the smoke. It wasn’t until months later that his parents confirmed it was Welles who had guided those people to safety before he tragically perished when the tower collapsed. His courage became a symbol of hope, and his story is still remembered as one of the many acts of heroism on 9/11.

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