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The September 11 attacks were an unforgettable time in U.S. history, and still fresh in the memories of Americans today. Nineteen years later, we revisit photos and news coverage of the tragic event that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, hijackers on American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., killing everyone on board and hundreds of people inside the building. It was initially viewed as an accident until, just a little over 15 minutes later at 9:03 a.m., hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower, killing those on board and several hundred inside the edifice.
At 9:31 a.m., President George W. Bush addressed the American people in a briefing from Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, FL, where he was visiting at the time of the attacks. He announced that the tragedy that occurred in New York City was "an apparent terrorist attack on our country."
Just a few minutes after Bush's speech, hijackers abroad American Airlines Flight 77 crash into the outer wall between the first and second floor of the Pentagon, killing all 59 passengers and 125 employees in the building. A fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into an open field at 10:03 a.m. in Somerset County, Pennsylvania after the 33 passengers aboard the plane staged an uprising against the hijackers.
In a national address later that night, Bush called the attacks "evil, despicable acts of terror," and assured Americans and allies that we would "stand together to win the war against terrorism."
Today, as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's annual remembrance ceremonies will obviously look different from previous years. Dueling ceremonies will take place at New York City's One World Trade Center and at the corner of Liberty and Church streets, where families will be able to either hear or read out the names of loved ones lost that day. The Tribute in Light—almost on the verge of cancellation this year—will also take place after sunset, displaying two beams of light where the Twin Towers once stood. Meanwhile, a private ceremony at the United Airlines Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania will be held in remembrance.
No matter how you choose to reflect on this day, images of what happened on 9/11 will forever serve as a reminder of the resilience we had—and still have—as a nation in the face of tragedy. As the world continues to change, the suffering and strength of that day will always remain a part of us.
