Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Thick smoke rises over the New York City skyline after the World Trade Center towers were downed by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
In this image taken from video, American Airlines Flight 11 is seen seconds before crashing into the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. ET. It was the first plane that hit the World Trade Center. Flight 11 took off from Boston and was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
People in New York look up as the World Trade Center burns.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Fire and smoke are seen from the north tower.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
A man falls from one of the World Trade Center towers. The publication of this photo, taken by Richard Drew, led to a public outcry from people who found it insensitive. Drew sees it differently. On the 10th anniversary of the attacks, he said he considers the falling man an "unknown soldier" who he hopes "represents everyone who had that same fate that day." It's believed that upwards of 200 people fell or jumped to their deaths after the planes hit the towers.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Seventeen minutes after the north tower was struck, at 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 flew into the south tower of the World Trade Center. That plane also flew out of Boston en route to Los Angeles.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
People in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral react with horror as they look down Fifth Avenue toward the World Trade Center site.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card whispers into the ear of US President George W. Bush as Bush was visiting an elementary school in Sarasota, Florida. "America is under attack," he said.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Pedestrians look across the East River to the burning towers.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Surveillance video from a Pentagon security camera shows a fireball rising from the southwestern side of the building after American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into it at 9:37 a.m. The flight had taken off from Dulles, Virginia, en route to Los Angeles.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Firefighters try to control the flames at the Pentagon.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Vice President Dick Cheney talks on the phone from inside the President's Emergency Operations Center.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
The south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed at 9:59 a.m.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
People run as the building collapses.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Two men take cover as a dust cloud from the collapsed building envelops lower Manhattan.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
At 10:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 93 — traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco — crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location, rather than their unknown target, after the passengers and crew tried to retake control of the flight deck.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Military vehicles travel along the road leading to the crash site of Flight 93.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Bush speaks to Cheney aboard Air Force One after departing Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He had flown to Nebraska temporarily for security reasons.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
The north tower of the World Trade Center collapsed at 10:28 a.m. The time between the first attack and the collapse of both towers was 102 minutes.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
A massive cloud of smoke and debris fills lower Manhattan after the north tower crumbled.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
New York Daily News photographer David Handschuh is carried after his leg was shattered by falling debris.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
A New York firefighter pauses as smoke rises in the background.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Dust-covered survivors run through New York's streets after the towers collapsed.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
People in New York navigate through a dust cloud.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Members of Congress gather on the east steps of Capitol Hill and sing "God Bless America" to denounce the terrorist attacks.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Marcy Borders stands covered in dust as she takes refuge in an office building after one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Borders, who became known as "Dust Lady," died of stomach cancer in 2015. She was 42.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Dust, ash and rubble cover everything on a street in lower Manhattan.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Remains of the World Trade Center are seen amid the debris.
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
Bush prepares to address the nation on the evening of September 11. "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America," he said in his remarks. "These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."
Timeline of the September 11 attacks
People in New York gather for a candlelight vigil a day after the attacks.