September 11 attacks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids September 11 attacks |
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|---|---|
 From top to bottom: the World Trade Center burning; a section of The Pentagon collapses; Flight 175 crashes into 2 WTC; a fireman requests help at Ground Zero; an engine from Flight 93 is recovered; Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon. |
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| Location | New York City; Arlington County, Virginia; and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. |
| Date | Tuesday, September 11, 2001 8:46 a.m. – 10:28 a.m. (UTC-04:00) |
| Attack type | Aircraft hijacking, terrorism |
| Deaths | 2,996 (2,977 victims + 19 hijackers) |
| Injured | More than 6,000 |
| Perpetrator(s) | Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden |
The September 11, 2001 attacks (also known as 9/11) were a series of four terrible terrorist attacks. They happened on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, in the United States. The attacks were carried out by a terrorist group called al-Qaeda.
Four groups of terrorists took control of airplanes. Each group had a pilot trained to fly the plane. They crashed the planes into important buildings in the U.S. Two planes hit the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon, a large government building. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. It did not reach its target in Washington, D.C. Almost 3,000 people died during these attacks. Most of the victims were from the United States. However, over 300 people from other countries also died. These countries included the United Kingdom, India, and Canada.
Contents
Key Moments of 9/11
All times listed are local time (Eastern Daylight Time).
- 7:59 A.M.: American Airlines Flight 11 takes off from Boston. It was headed for Los Angeles.
- 8:14 A.M.: United Airlines Flight 175 also takes off from Boston. It was also going to Los Angeles.
- 8:20 A.M.: American Airlines Flight 77 leaves Washington Dulles International Airport. Its destination was Los Angeles.
- 8:42 A.M.: United Airlines Flight 93 takes off from Newark International Airport. It was flying to San Francisco International Airport.
- 8:42–46 A.M.: Terrorists take control of Flight 175.
- 8:46:40 A.M.: Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It hit between the 93rd and 99th floors.
- 8:50–54 A.M.: Terrorists take control of Flight 77.
- 9:03:02 A.M.: Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. It hit between the 77th and 85th floors.
- 9:28 A.M.: Terrorists take control of Flight 93.
- 9:37:46 A.M.: Flight 77 crashes into The Pentagon.
- 9:59:00 A.M.: The South Tower collapses.
- 10:03:11 A.M.: Flight 93 crashes into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- 10:28:22 A.M.: The North Tower collapses.
The Airplanes Used in the Attacks
Four different planes were used in the 9/11 attacks.
American Airlines Flight 11
This was the first plane to leave. It was a Boeing 767-200ER. This plane was 159 feet long. It had two aisles inside. Flight 11 usually flew between Boston and Los Angeles. On September 11, it took off at 7:59 a.m. with 81 passengers. It crashed into the North Tower at 440 miles per hour. It was carrying a lot of jet fuel.
United Flight 175
This was also a Boeing 767-200ER. Like Flight 11, it was supposed to fly from Boston to Los Angeles. United 175 took off at 8:14 a.m. It had 56 passengers on board. It crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. The plane was traveling at 540 miles per hour.
American Airlines Flight 77
This was the third plane to take off. It was a Boeing 757-200. Flight 77 left Washington, D.C., at 8:20 a.m. It was also going to Los Angeles. It had 58 passengers. The plane crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. It was flying at 530 miles per hour.
United Airlines Flight 93
This was the fourth plane, also a 757-200. It was delayed and took off at 8:42 a.m. from Newark, New Jersey. It was headed for San Francisco. Only 37 passengers were on board. This plane crashed at 560 miles per hour. It landed in an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m.
What Happened After the Crashes
All 246 people on the four planes died. The 19 terrorists were also killed. Both of the World Trade Center towers caught fire. The South Tower burned for 56 minutes before it fell down. The North Tower burned for 102 minutes before it also collapsed. As the towers fell, parts of them hit other buildings nearby. This caused a third building, 7 World Trade Center, to fall later that day. Many other buildings were badly damaged.
The plane that hit the Pentagon crashed into the western side of the building. It went through three of the Pentagon's five "rings." This crash killed 125 people inside the Pentagon. In total, 2,996 people died in the attacks. This included firefighters and policemen who were trying to save lives.
Some conspiracy theories have suggested that people in the U.S. government knew about the attacks before they happened.
The War on Terror Begins
After the attacks, the United States blamed Al-Qaeda. President George W. Bush announced a "War on Terror." This meant the U.S. would take more actions to stop terrorism. President Bush said this was to protect Americans. Security was made much stronger, especially at airports.
The War on Terror also led to actual wars. The leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was living in Afghanistan. The U.S. asked Afghanistan's government, the Taliban, to hand over bin Laden. The Taliban refused. So, the United States went to war against Afghanistan. The Taliban was removed from power. A new government was then put in place.
Changes in U.S. Security
The U.S. government made some big changes. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Before 9/11, airlines handled airport security. The TSA made it the government's job. New officers were hired to work at airports. They also flew on planes as air marshals. The TSA also helps with security on trains and subways.
A new department was also created: the Department of Homeland Security. Its job was to protect Americans and their property inside the United States. The TSA later became part of this new department.
War in Iraq
After defeating the Taliban, President George W. Bush thought the U.S. should invade Iraq. He believed Iraq helped terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda. He also said Iraq was making dangerous weapons. In March 2003, the United States began its invasion of Iraq. Other countries like the United Kingdom also helped. Iraq's government was overthrown, and a new one was elected. However, no dangerous weapons were found in Iraq.
On May 2, 2011, United States Navy SEALs killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. He was responsible for the September 11 attacks and other terrorist acts.
Images for kids
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Khalid Sheikh Mohammed after his capture in 2003
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Flight paths of the four planes
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The north face of Two World Trade Center (South Tower) immediately after being struck by United Airlines Flight 175
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World Trade Center site (Ground Zero) with an overlay showing the original building locations
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Aerial view of the Pentagon
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Search and rescue teams inspect the wreckage at Ground Zero on September 13
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Vladimir Putin (right) and his then-wife Lyudmila Putina (center) on November 16
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The exterior support columns from the lower level of the South Tower remained standing after the building collapsed.
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Rebuilt One World Trade Center nearing completion in July 2013
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The Tribute in Light on September 11, 2006, the fifth anniversary of the attacks
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Fritz Koenig’s monumental sculpture The Sphere in its final location in Liberty Park
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See also
In Spanish: Atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001 para niños
