Sunday, October 13, 2024

Remembering the Events of 9/11

9/11 Memorial Event In New York City

An annual commemorative event to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001, tragedy is scheduled to take place in lower Manhattan on Monday. The event would mark the 22nd anniversary of the Twin Towers collapse at the World Trade Center during the most devastating terrorist attack ever witnessed on American soil. 

About 3,000 individuals lost their lives in the 9/11 terror attacks.

Tune in for live coverage of the 9/11 memorial ceremony on CBS News New York, starting at 8:25 a.m. Eastern Time. The ceremony will feature a solemn reading of the names of the individuals who tragically lost their lives at ground zero.

Vice President Kamala Harris, along with other prominent figures, participated in the gathering on Monday at the location. Commemorative events also took place in various other venues, such as firehouses and municipal buildings. 

President Joe Biden is anticipated to deliver an address to members of the armed forces, first responders, and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. This stop is part of his return journey from Vietnam to Washington, D.C.

All About 9/11 Terror Attacks

How many people died in the 9/11 attacks? 

Almost 3,000 individuals lost their lives when terrorists from the Al Qaeda group hijacked four airplanes.

Two of these planes crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York. Another plane struck the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania because brave passengers fought back, preventing it from reaching its intended target.

Identifying the remains of those who died at the World Trade Center continues even more than two decades after the attacks. Recent advances in DNA technology allowed for the identification of remains belonging to two victims just last week.

In addition to the immediate casualties that day, the World Trade Center attack exposed hundreds of thousands of people in lower Manhattan to toxic air and debris, leading to illnesses related to 9/11. The exact number of these cases is uncertain, but reports indicate that 341 firefighters from the FDNY have succumbed to illnesses related to 9/11, according to CBS New York.

What time did the 9/11 attacks occur? 

The American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. ET. This tragic event resulted in the loss of everyone on board and left people on the tower’s upper floors in a perilous situation. 

Subsequently, at 9:03 a.m. ET, the second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Both towers ultimately collapsed, with the South Tower falling just before 10 a.m. and the North Tower collapsing half an hour later.

At 9:37 a.m. ET, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.

Finally, at 10:03 a.m. ET, United Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Events That Unfolded at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania

When American Airlines Flight 77 tragically collided with the southwest corner of the Pentagon, it resulted in the loss of 184 lives, including 64 individuals on the plane and 125 within the building.

Among the few eyewitnesses at the Pentagon, Sean Boger witnessed the plane’s low approach, which was so close that it knocked down a streetlight.

In a 2021 interview, Boger described how he looked up and saw a plane flying directly toward them. He had only 10 to 15 seconds before the plane struck the building. The impact created a sound he likened to “someone sawing metal.”

“I just couldn’t believe something that big could be flying that low and flying directly at us,” he recounted.

On another front, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff paid a visit to the Shanksville site on Monday.

Concurrently, a memorial ceremony took place at the Pentagon on Monday morning. 

Less than half an hour later, the fourth plane involved in the terrorist attack, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. This plane had been hijacked and was en route to Washington, D.C., but never reached its intended destination due to the courageous actions of passengers and crew.

Initially, the hijackers forced them to the rear of the plane. However, they collectively decided to reclaim control of the aircraft, as documented by the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial. A struggle unfolded, leading to the plane crashing into an open area, and countless lives were saved.

MORE ARTICLES

MORE NEWS