The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City forever changed the United States. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.
There were four coordinated attacks on that day carried out by the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers in New York City. One was flown into the Pentagon.
The fourth plane, which was destined for either the White House or the Capitol, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania because of a passenger revolt. Everyone on the planes lost their lives, but the passengers on the fourth plane, United 93, doubtless saved many lives that day.
2,977 people lost their lives in the initial attacks that day. But many many more succumbed to injuries later on. This number continues to grow to this day. This is because all of the dust and debris that was inhaled by citizens this day caused cancer and other fatal lifelong ailments.
Flights across the United States were grounded. President George Bush was informed that this had been the work of Al-Qaeda under Osama bin Laden.
The United States invaded Afghanistan to displace the Taliban. This attack started the decades-long war on terror.
The impact of the two planes on the towers.The towers caught on fire immediately.Many people posed for pictures before realizing the impact of what happened that day. The second plane flying into the towers.Ladder 118 going over the bridge to help. This would be their last run. All firefighters from this station perished. The second plane getting close to impact. The explosion from the second plane.Another angle of the second plane while the first tower burns. A photoshoot was going on and it ended up capturing the impact in the background. Tower 1 was beginning to collapse in this picture. The first tower rapidly breaking down before its collapse. Firefighters at the Pentagon. George Bush was at an elementary school when he received the news of the attack. A firefighter gasping for some fresh water.A full view of the wreckage.New York citizens running from the crowd of debris.Both of the towers after the planes had gone through.A photo taken from a nearby building after the first attack. A still from a video captures the plane as it flies overhead. Two men pose with the tower in the back. A child tourist with the wreckage in the background. Tourists pose with the tower smoking in the backgroundA man has his picture taken with the smoking towers in the back. There are many pictures like this taken before people realized how bad the day would become. The collapse begins. Smoke billows from Tower 1.When the second plane hit, it became clear that this was an attack and not an accident. A close up showing where the plane entered. Spectators took pictures from the base of the towers before evacuating the area. The first tower collapse and huge plumes of smoke and debris billow through the city. A picture showing the amount of floors that the initial impact hit. So much smoke and debris covered the city. Pieces of the building fall over before total collapse. The picture shows almost a clear cut-out of the silhouette of the plane. Residents across the water watch the scene from afar. Debris litters the streets below.People flee the scene through streets filled with trash and dust. People stand around in the wreckage in confusion. Firefighters scope out the scene.
