September 11, 2001

• PRINT

Two beams of light brightened the sky above lower Manhattan near the site of the World Trade Center in March of 2002. (Photo: Catherine Leuthild/AP WideWorld)

On September 11, the nation and the world will take time to remember those who died in the terrorist attacks five years ago. Here is a look back at the unfolding of events of September 11, 2001, one of America's bleakest days.

The World Trade Center

7:59 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 departs Boston Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles.

8:14 a.m. United Airlines Flight 175 also departs from Logan, bound for Los Angeles.

8:40 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notifies the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) that Flight 11 has been hijacked.

8:43 a.m. The FAA tells NORAD that Flight 175 has been hijacked.

8:46 a.m. American Flight 11 crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.

9:03 a.m. United Flight 175 crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.

10:05 a.m. The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses into the plaza and streets below. A huge cloud of dust and debris forms and drifts southward away from the area.

10:28 a.m. The World Trade Center's north tower collapses.

4:10 p.m. Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex is reported on fire.

5:20 p.m. Building 7 collapses. Across the street from the towers, it was weakened by debris from the twin towers and the fires of diesel fuel inside the building.

The Pentagon

8:20 a.m. American Airlines Flight 77 departs Washington Dulles Airport bound for Los Angeles.

9:24 a.m. FAA tells NORAD that Flight 77 has been hijacked.

9:40 a.m. Flight 77 crashes into the west face of the Pentagon.

10:10 a.m. A portion of the Pentagon collapses.

Pennsylvania Crash

8:42 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93 departs from Newark International Airport bound for San Francisco.

9:45 a.m. A passenger calls 911 from a cellular telephone and reports the plane has been hijacked.

10:37 a.m. Flight 93 crashes into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The crash is believed to be due in part to the passengers' move to attack the hijackers.

 

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This year marks the fifth anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.

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