9/11 Timeline: The Attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City | History

HISTORY

9 Sept 201104:56

Summary

TLDROn September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 struck the World Trade Center's North and South Towers, respectively, causing massive destruction and loss of life. The South Tower collapsed after 56 minutes, followed by the North Tower. The city's command center in WTC 7 burned for hours before collapsing, adding to the chaos. Amidst the devastation, emergency services and the Army Corps of Engineers worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and evacuate citizens. The day marked the longest and most tragic in New York's history.

Takeaways

🕗 **Time of Impact**: The first plane struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m.
🛫 **Flight Details**: American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston, carrying 92 people, was the first to hit the World Trade Center.
🗼 **Second Impact**: United Airlines Flight 175 with 65 people on board hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.
💥 **South Tower Collapse**: The South Tower collapsed after 56 minutes at 9:59 a.m.
🏙️ **Citywide Response**: A coordinated citywide emergency response was initiated from the command center on the 23rd floor of 7 World Trade Center.
🚒 **Firefighters Trapped**: Hundreds of firefighters were trapped in the towers.
🏗️ **Collapse of 7 World Trade Center**: The building housing the command center burned for 7 hours and collapsed at 5:20 p.m.
🚨 **Emergency Services**: The NYPD reported 78 officers missing and estimated 200 firefighters dead.
🔍 **Search and Rescue**: Urban search and rescue teams worked to find survivors in the debris.
🌉 **Civilian Evacuation**: Residents evacuated the city, some crossing the Brooklyn Bridge or using vessels from the Army Corps of Engineers.
🕰️ **Length of Tragedy**: September 11, 2001, was the longest and most tragic day in New York's history.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of the person who received the news about the plane hitting the World Trade Center?
-The initial reaction was disbelief, thinking it was a small plane like a Piper Cub flown by a clown.
What was the flight number and origin of the plane that struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center?
-The flight number was American Airlines flight 11, originating from Boston.
At what time did American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower, and how fast was it traveling?
-American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., traveling at a speed of 470 mph.
How many minutes after the first impact did United Airlines flight 175 hit the South Tower?
-United Airlines flight 175 hit the South Tower 13 minutes after the first impact.
What was the speed and the number of passengers aboard United Airlines flight 175 when it hit the South Tower?
-United Airlines flight 175 was traveling at a speed of 590 mph with 65 passengers aboard when it hit the South Tower.
How long did the South Tower stand before collapsing after being struck by the plane?
-The South Tower lasted only 56 minutes before collapsing at 9:59 a.m.
What was the condition of the city's Command Center located in World Trade Center 7 during the attacks?
-The Command Center in World Trade Center 7 burned for 7 hours before collapsing at 5:20 p.m.
Who ordered the evacuation of World Trade Center 7, and what was the outcome of this order?
-The order to evacuate was given by an unknown person, but it is believed to have saved many lives.
What was the situation in lower Manhattan following the collapse of the towers?
-Lower Manhattan experienced power outages, jammed phone lines with over 230 million calls, and hundreds of firefighters were trapped.
How did some residents of New York City attempt to escape the city on September 11th?
-Some residents walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, while others sought escape on vessels piloted by the Army Corps of Engineers.
What was the estimate of missing police officers and dead firefighters according to the New York Police Department?
-The New York Police Department reported 78 officers missing and estimated 200 firefighters dead.
What efforts were made to find survivors in the rubble of the World Trade Center?
-Urban search and rescue teams worked to search areas beneath the debris field, looking for voids that might contain survivors.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ September 11th: A Day of Grief and Courage

The script recounts the tragic events of September 11, 2001, beginning with the first reports of a plane hitting the World Trade Center. It details the timeline of the attacks, including the impact of American Airlines Flight 11 at 8:46 a.m. into the North Tower and United Airlines Flight 175 at 9:03 a.m. into the South Tower. The response of emergency services is highlighted, with the mention of the state-of-the-art command center located on the 23rd floor of 7 World Trade Center. The narrative describes the collapse of both towers, the chaos in New York City, and the efforts of firefighters and police officers. It also touches on the evacuation orders that saved lives and the search for survivors in the rubble, concluding with the day's impact on New York's history.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡September 11th, 2001

September 11th, 2001, often abbreviated as 9/11, refers to the date of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against the United States. The attacks involved the hijacking of four commercial airplanes, with two of them being flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, as mentioned in the script: 'American Airlines flight 11 from Boston with 92 aboard, traveling at a speed of 470 mph strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center.' This event marked one of the darkest days in American history and led to significant global political and economic repercussions.

💡World Trade Center

The World Trade Center was a complex of buildings in Lower Manhattan, New York City, which included the iconic Twin Towers. The script describes the tragic event where 'American Airlines flight 11... strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center,' and 'United Airlines flight 175... smashes into the South Tower.' The destruction of these buildings was a pivotal moment in the 9/11 attacks, symbolizing the scale of the tragedy and the loss of life.

💡Emergency Response

Emergency response refers to the actions taken by emergency services and other organizations during a crisis. The script mentions that 'officials coordinate the Citywide emergency response,' which was crucial in managing the aftermath of the attacks. This response included search and rescue operations, medical assistance, and evacuation procedures, highlighting the importance of organized efforts in disaster management.

💡Command Center

A command center is a central location where operations are coordinated during an emergency or crisis. In the script, it is mentioned that the base of operations was a 'state-of-the-art command center located at on the 23rd floor of seven World Trade Center.' This command center was critical for organizing the emergency response but was later destroyed, illustrating the severity of the situation and the challenges faced by the responders.

💡Collapse

The term 'collapse' in the script refers to the structural failure and falling of the Twin Towers. The script states, 'once the collapse started there really wasn't any way to stop it,' emphasizing the catastrophic nature of the event. The collapse resulted in massive loss of life and property, and it was a turning point in the narrative of the day's events.

💡Chaos

Chaos describes a state of extreme confusion and disorder. The script mentions 'chaos in New York City,' which resulted from the attacks and the subsequent collapse of the buildings. This chaos included power outages, jammed phone lines, and the urgent need for rescue and evacuation, reflecting the overwhelming impact of the disaster on the city's infrastructure and population.

💡Search and Rescue

Search and rescue operations involve the coordinated efforts to locate and assist victims of disasters. The script refers to these efforts when it says, 'working with Urban search and rescue teams there was a lot of areas to be searched.' These operations were critical in the aftermath of 9/11, as they aimed to save lives and provide aid to those trapped in the rubble.

💡Rubble

Rubble refers to the broken remains of buildings or other structures. In the context of the script, 'rubble' is used to describe the aftermath of the Twin Towers' collapse, as in 'there were voids that had to be searched, for possible live people.' The term highlights the physical devastation and the challenges faced by rescue teams in their efforts to find survivors.

💡Evacuation

Evacuation is the process of removing people from a dangerous area. The script describes how 'some residents walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to get out of the city,' indicating the scale of the evacuation that took place. This mass movement of people was a critical response to the threat posed by the disaster and the uncertainty of further attacks.

💡First Responders

First responders are emergency personnel who are among the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide assistance. The script mentions 'hundreds of firefighters trapped in the towers' and '78 officers are missing,' highlighting the significant role and the risks faced by first responders during the 9/11 attacks. Their bravery and dedication were instrumental in the rescue and recovery efforts.

Highlights

September 11th, 2001 marked a day of grief and courage.

The first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.

American Airlines Flight 11 had 92 people aboard when it struck the North Tower.

Citywide emergency response was coordinated from a command center on the 23rd floor of 7 World Trade Center.

United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m., with 65 people aboard.

The South Tower collapsed after 56 minutes, at 9:59 a.m.

The dust cloud from the South Tower's collapse extended for blocks.

The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m., causing chaos in New York City.

Lower Manhattan experienced power outages and phone lines were jammed with over 230 million calls.

Hundreds of firefighters were trapped in the towers, with more racing to the scene.

Debris from the collapses ignited fires in neighboring buildings, including World Trade 4, 5, and 6.

World Trade 7, housing the city's Command Center, burned for 7 hours before collapsing at 5:20 p.m.

The order to evacuate World Trade 7 was given, saving many lives, but the source of the order remains unknown.

New York City resembled a war zone, with residents seeking escape over the Brooklyn Bridge or by water.

The New York Police Department reported 78 officers missing and estimated 200 firefighter deaths.

Police officials believed there were victims alive in the rubble, prompting search and rescue efforts.

Urban search and rescue teams searched for live people in the debris field's voids.

September 11th, 2001, was the longest and most tragic day in New York's history.