It began as a normal Tuesday morning on September 11, 2001; no one could predict what would lay ahead. This day was a devastating one for America. For those who had lost their loved ones, it is a day no American can forget. On 9/11, members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group led by Osama Bin Laden hijacked four planes.  Al-Qaeda had carried out many terrorist attacks all over the world, but September 11th was the deadliest in the United States.

The first plane flew and crashed into the northern twin tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The structure of the plane made an impact on the building creating a burning hole and causing flames and smoke to swarm in every direction near the 80th floor of the skyscraper. The immediate collision and flames killed hundreds of people and trapped those above.

Eighteen minutes after the first tower was hit, the next plane appeared and hit the south tower near the 60th floor. The destruction provoked an enormous outburst of burning debris over the surrounding buildings and on the streets below. Soon after the New York City attack, another plane crashed into the Pentagon Military Headquarters of the U.S Department of Defense outside of Washington D.C., which led to a partial collapse of the building’s west side. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers who had heard about the first three planes tried to overtake the hijackers.

During this terrorist attack, 2,977 people died. At The World Trade Center and its surrounding areas, 2,606 people died, and 125 at the Pentagon including the 19 terrorists who were involved. More than 6,000 people were critically injured. Today is a day of silence for those we lost during the tragic event that shook our hearts.

Here are some facts you may or may not have learned about September 11, 2001: 

1. Several of the hijackers were trained at Lantana airport in Florida

2. Most hijackers were from Saudi Arabia

3. The World Trade Center was previously targeted

4. There’s a 9/11 memorial in New York at the site of the attack