Remember
September 11, 2001 - A day that changed America forever
"We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember..."
— President George W. Bush, September 14, 2001
Experience The Flights
Step through an interactive timeline of the four hijacked flights with our interactive map.
Timeline of September 11, 2001
Hijackers Pass Through Security
Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari pass through security at Portland International Jetport to board a commuter flight to Boston's Logan Airport.
Portland, Maine
American Airlines Flight 11 Departs
American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 carrying 81 passengers and 11 crew members, departs Boston's Logan Airport bound for Los Angeles. The aircraft is hijacked shortly after takeoff.
Boston, Massachusetts
United Airlines Flight 175 Departs
United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 with 56 passengers and 9 crew members, departs Boston's Logan Airport for Los Angeles.
Boston, Massachusetts
Flight 11 Attendant Reports Hijacking
Flight attendant Betty Ong contacts American Airlines ground personnel, reporting that the plane has been hijacked. She provides critical information about the hijackers for 25 minutes.
Airspace over Massachusetts
American Airlines Flight 77 Departs
American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 carrying 58 passengers and 6 crew members, departs Washington Dulles for Los Angeles.
Washington Dulles International Airport
Hijacker Transmission Heard
Air traffic controllers hear hijacker Mohamed Atta say: "We have some planes. Just stay quiet and you'll be okay."
Airspace over New York
Boston Center Alerts NEADS
Boston Air Traffic Control Center alerts the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) that Flight 11 has been hijacked.
Boston Center
United Airlines Flight 93 Departs
United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 with 37 passengers and 7 crew members, departs Newark International Airport for San Francisco, delayed 25 minutes from its scheduled departure.
Newark, New Jersey
Flight 11 Strikes North Tower
American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at approximately 490 mph, striking floors 93 through 99. All 92 people aboard are killed instantly. The impact and resulting fires trap hundreds above the impact zone.
World Trade Center, New York City
President Bush Informed
President George W. Bush, at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, is informed that a plane has struck the World Trade Center.
Sarasota, Florida
Flight 175 Strikes South Tower
United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at approximately 590 mph, striking floors 77 through 85. All 65 people aboard perish. The second impact is broadcast live on television worldwide, confirming America is under attack.
World Trade Center, New York City
President Learns of Second Attack
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card whispers to President Bush: "A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack." The President continues reading to the children briefly before excusing himself.
Sarasota, Florida
Flight Attendant Reports Flight 77 Hijacking
Flight attendant Renee May calls her mother from Flight 77, reporting the plane has been hijacked and passengers moved to the back.
Airspace over United States
Fighter Jets Scrambled
Three F-16 fighter jets are scrambled from Langley Air Force Base in response to reports of hijacked aircraft heading toward Washington, D.C.
Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
Flight 93 Hijacked
Hijackers storm the cockpit of Flight 93, stabbing and possibly killing both pilots. Air traffic controllers hear sounds of struggle and someone screaming.
Airspace over Ohio
President Addresses the Nation
President Bush addresses the nation from Florida: "Today we've had a national tragedy. Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country."
Sarasota, Florida
Passengers Learn of Other Attacks
Passengers and crew aboard Flight 93 begin making phone calls to loved ones and learn that other hijacked planes have been crashed into the World Trade Center.
Airspace over United States
Flight 77 Strikes the Pentagon
American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the western side of the Pentagon at approximately 530 mph. All 64 people aboard and 125 Pentagon personnel are killed. The attack destroys a portion of the building's western façade.
Arlington, Virginia
FAA Grounds All Flights
The Federal Aviation Administration orders all aircraft in U.S. airspace to land at the nearest airport. For the first time in history, all civilian aircraft are grounded nationwide.
United States Airspace
White House Evacuated
The White House and U.S. Capitol are evacuated. Vice President Dick Cheney is taken to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center beneath the White House.
Washington, D.C.
Passengers Vote to Storm Cockpit
Passengers aboard Flight 93, having learned of the other attacks, vote to attempt to retake the aircraft. Todd Beamer is heard saying "Are you guys ready? Let's roll."
Airspace over Pennsylvania
South Tower Collapses
The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses after burning for 56 minutes. The tower falls in approximately 10 seconds. Hundreds of first responders and civilians still inside are killed.
World Trade Center, New York City
Flight 93 Crashes in Pennsylvania
United Airlines Flight 93 crashes into an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 580 mph, 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. All 40 people aboard are killed. The passengers' revolt prevented the plane from reaching its intended target, believed to be the U.S. Capitol or White House.
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Pentagon Section Collapses
The damaged section of the Pentagon collapses due to the fire and structural damage from the impact.
Arlington, Virginia
North Tower Collapses
The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses after burning for 102 minutes. The collapse sends a massive cloud of debris through lower Manhattan. By day's end, 2,977 people from 93 nations have been killed in the attacks.
World Trade Center, New York City
Shoot-Down Authorization
Vice President Cheney authorizes the military to shoot down any commercial aircraft that does not respond to instructions. Fortunately, all hijacked aircraft have already crashed.
Airspace near Washington, D.C.
Mayor Giuliani Orders Evacuation
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani orders the evacuation of Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
New York City
President Bush Addresses Nation Again
From Barksdale Air Force Base, President Bush assures the nation: "Make no mistake: The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."
Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
7 World Trade Center Collapses
7 World Trade Center, a 47-story building adjacent to the Twin Towers, collapses due to fires that had burned throughout the day. The building had been evacuated; no one is killed.
World Trade Center, New York City
President Bush Addresses the Nation
President Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office: "Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America." He vows to find those responsible.
Washington, D.C.
Rescue Operations Continue
Search and rescue operations continue through the night at Ground Zero and the Pentagon. Firefighters, police, and volunteers work tirelessly in the hope of finding survivors beneath the rubble.
New York City
We Remember
Lives Lost
Firefighters
NYPD Officers
World Trade Center
2,753 people perished at the World Trade Center, including office workers, first responders, and passengers on two commercial aircraft.
Pentagon
184 people died at the Pentagon, including Pentagon staff and passengers on American Airlines Flight 77.
Flight 93
40 passengers and crew members lost their lives when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after fighting back against hijackers.
First Responders
412 emergency workers died that day, including 343 firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority Police officers who gave their lives trying to save others.
Visit the Memorial Sites
Never Forget
The 9/11 National Memorial Trail stands as a living tribute to ensure that future generations will remember the events of September 11, 2001, and honor those who were lost.