America Attacked

On the morning of September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial flights that departed from East Coast airports. Two hijacked aircraft were deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City and a third into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. Nearly 3,000 people died in the four aircraft strikes, making September 11 the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. Alerted to the attack at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the 40 unarmed passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93 took quick and decisive action. Their effort to regain control of the aircraft ended after a struggle for the cockpit. This revolt prevented Flight 93 from reaching al-Qaeda's intended target. Evidence later revealed that the most likely target was the US Capitol, where both Houses of Congress were in session. Flight 93 crashed less than 20 minutes flying time from Washington, DC.

Pennsylvania · United States