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https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/attack-on-america?cmpid=email-hist-tdih-2021-0 [login to see] 1&om_rid=
At approximately 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767—United Airlines Flight 175—appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center, and sliced into the south tower at about the 60th floor. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and the streets below. America was under attack.
The attackers were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations. Reportedly financed by Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist organization, they were allegedly acting in retaliation for America’s support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War, and its continued military presence in the Middle East. Some of the terrorists had lived in the United States for more than a year and had taken flying lessons at American commercial flight schools. Others had slipped into the U.S. in the months before September 11 and acted as the “muscle” in the operation. The 19 terrorists easily smuggled box-cutters and knives through security at three East Coast airports and boarded four flights bound for California, chosen because the planes were loaded with fuel for the long transcontinental journey. Soon after takeoff, the terrorists commandeered the four planes and took the controls, transforming the ordinary commuter jets into guided missiles.
At approximately 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767—United Airlines Flight 175—appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center, and sliced into the south tower at about the 60th floor. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and the streets below. America was under attack.
The attackers were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations. Reportedly financed by Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist organization, they were allegedly acting in retaliation for America’s support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War, and its continued military presence in the Middle East. Some of the terrorists had lived in the United States for more than a year and had taken flying lessons at American commercial flight schools. Others had slipped into the U.S. in the months before September 11 and acted as the “muscle” in the operation. The 19 terrorists easily smuggled box-cutters and knives through security at three East Coast airports and boarded four flights bound for California, chosen because the planes were loaded with fuel for the long transcontinental journey. Soon after takeoff, the terrorists commandeered the four planes and took the controls, transforming the ordinary commuter jets into guided missiles.
Attack on America
Posted from history.com
American History
Death
Saudi Arabia
New York City
Pentagon
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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I was teaching school that day and one of our buses had an accident. When I went in to report it I saw the plane fly into the towers. I remember it well. I rushed into the 138th FW in Tulsa, while our aircraft were escorting the President. Spent the next couple weeks sleeping on a cot in the Command Post. Found out later that my other unit I joined in 03, the 147th FW, were also escorts for Bush who had been a member of the unit prior. God Bless, and never forget!
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
I was in the Pentagon that morning and on the last train to leave the metro station under the building
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SSG Bill McCoy
I was at work when my supervisor called me and told me to tune the radio to the news because, "A plane - I think a small one, just hit one of the World Trade Center towers in New York!" Maybe two minutes after finding a station reporting on it with a live broadcast to that staion from NYC, the announcer in a paniced voice said, "Another airliner just hit the other tower!!" Like most everone else, I immediately recognized it as a terror attack.
Sometime, it mentioned that flights were all being grounded and ordered to land. Then they announced that another airliner, "just hit the Pentagon!" They also said there might be a fourth headed to Pittsburgh ... and a lot of people in Western PA saw the plane flying by very low. A local cop saw it ... and shortly after, it was reported that it too went down but into a farmer's field.
Sometime, it mentioned that flights were all being grounded and ordered to land. Then they announced that another airliner, "just hit the Pentagon!" They also said there might be a fourth headed to Pittsburgh ... and a lot of people in Western PA saw the plane flying by very low. A local cop saw it ... and shortly after, it was reported that it too went down but into a farmer's field.
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When the first jet hit, I was at work, everyone was awestruck, and couldn't believe it was happening Lt Col Charlie Brown
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