It has been 15 years since the ‘9/11’ attacks in the United States left nearly 3,000 people dead.
The Al-Qaeda plane hijackings reportedly became the first foreign attack on the United States in almost two centuries. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York, killing 2,753 people. A third plane smashed into the Pentagon in Washington, killing an additional 180 people, and the fourth plane which was headed to Washington crashed in Shanskville, Pennsylvania, following a passenger revolt.
Today, Sunday, many people have taken to social media to remember and to mark yet another anniversary of the sad event that changed the world.
And to mark the 102 minutes that changed the world on that day, here, according to Times Now, is a timeline of the events of that fateful morning:
8:46 am – The first strike
An American Airlines Boeing 767 making a Boston-Los Angeles connection with 92 people on board — including five hijackers — smashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, leaving a giant hole in the building’s facade. Thick smoke trails into the sky from the tower’s upper floors.
9:03 am – Second tower hit
A United Airlines Boeing 767 making a Boston-Los Angeles connection with 65 people on board — including five hijackers — hits the South Tower of the WTC, sparking a massive explosion.
9:30 am – Bush speaks
Then US president George W. Bush, in Sarasota, Florida, calls the blasts “an apparent terrorist attack.” He orders “a full-scale investigation to hunt down and to find those folks who committed these acts” and says he will immediately return to Washington.
9:37 am – Pentagon hit
An American Airlines Boeing 757 making a Washington Dulles-Los Angeles connection with 64 people on board — including five hijackers — smashes into the Pentagon in suburban Washington, setting off two explosions.
9:42 am – Planes grounded
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) orders the cancellation of all commercial flights in the United States.
9:59 am – South Tower collapses
The WTC’s South Tower hit 56 minutes earlier, collapses in a huge cloud of smoke and dust.
10:03 am – Crash in Pennsylvania
A United Airlines Boeing 757 traveling from Newark to San Francisco with 44 people on board — including four hijackers — crashes into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew apparently fought with the hijackers.
10:28 am – North Tower collapses
The north tower of the WTC collapses, an hour and 42 minutes after it was struck. A huge cloud of dust blankets lower Manhattan.
