9/11: the day that changed the world

On the morning of September 11, 2001, millions of commuters in New York and Washington were heading to the office under brilliant blue skies.

Before the working day could properly begin, four hijacked planes smashed into the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and a field in rural Pennsylvania.

It was the biggest attack on US soil, killing about 3,000 people – deadlier even than the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbour in 1941.

The events of 9/11, as it soon became known, defined geopolitics in the early 2000s, triggered the costly and protracted wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continue to shape US foreign and domestic policy.

This is a look at the pivotal moments from a day that shook the world.

7.59am

American Airlines Flight 11 takes off from Boston with 92 people on board. The flight was bound for Los Angeles. It is the first of four planes hijacked.

8.40am

Air traffic controllers notify authorities about the suspected hijacking of Flight 11. The military scrambles two fighter jets to intercept the plane but it is too late.

8.46am

Mohammed Atta and other hijackers on Flight 11 crash it into the World Trade Centre’s North Tower. New York fire and police departments immediately respond. People below the impacted floors of the 110-storey building frantically try to escape, but those above are trapped.

8.50am

US President George W Bush, who is visiting an elementary school in Florida, is told a plane has hit the World Trade Centre.

9.03am

The South Tower is hit. Hijackers crash United Airlines Flight 175, which set off from Boston for Los Angeles, into the building.

9.08am

The Federal Aviation Administration grounds all flights going to New York or through its airspace.

9.24am

Authorities learn of suspected hijacking of American Airlines Flight 77, which had left Dulles, Virginia, for Los Angeles.

9.31am

Mr Bush describes the day’s unfolding events as an “apparent terrorist attack on our country”.

9.37am

Flight 77 is crashed into the Pentagon. All 59 people on board are killed, along with 125 Pentagon military and civilian personnel.

9.42am

The FAA grounds all flights, and thousands of airborne planes are told to land at airports across the US and Canada.

9.59am

The South Tower collapses.

10.03am

United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in rural Pennsylvania, killing all 40 passengers and crew, as well as four hijackers. Investigators later say the plane was bound for either the Capitol Building or the White House, but the plane crashed as passengers fought back against the hijackers.

10.28am

The North Tower collapses.

5.20pm

After catching fire when the neighbouring Twin Towers fell and burning for seven hours, the 47-storey 7 World Trade Centre building collapses.

8.30pm

Mr Bush gives an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House.

“Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror,” he says.
“America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.”

September 20

Mr Bush declares “justice will be done” during an address to Congress.

“Our war on terror begins with Al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated,” he says.

October 7

After the Taliban ignore US demands to surrender Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, American and British forces begin the war in Afghanistan with air strikes on terrorist training camps in the country. The US-led invasion follows soon after.

Words Thomas Watkins
Editor Juman Jarallah
Photo Editor Olive Obina
Design Nick Donaldson
Video Erica Elkhershi
Sub Editor Chris Tait

_{Photo Credits: AP; US Air Force; Reuters; Shutterstock; Getty; AFP}