September 11 terrorist attacks overview

On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists orchestrated by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hijacked four fuel-loaded commercial airplanes to carry out attacks across the United States. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,977 people in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In New York City, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 struck the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The collapses killed 2,753 people at the site, including 343 firefighters and 23 police officers. In Washington, D.C., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the aircraft, resulting in 40 deaths.

The hijackers included Mohamed Atta, the tactical leader of the plot, and pilots Marwan al Shehhi, Hani Hanjour, and Ziad Jarrah. The group consisted of individuals from various nationalities, primarily from Saudi Arabia, as well as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon.