What Happened on 9/11? Minute-by-Minute Timeline as World Marks 25 Years of 9/11

Twenty-five years after four hijacked planes crashed in the United States, communities are gathering at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville to honor those who died on 9/11 incident. 

Figures from the National September 11 Memorial and Museum show that 2977 people died when 19 al-Qaeda hijackers took over the flights. 

So reviewing the 9/11 timeline of events helps us remember the lives lost and understand how safety rules changed afterward. And hereonwards you will read the exact 9/11 timeline to understand what took place on September 11th of 2001 in the United States.

What is Minute by Minute 9/11 Timeline?

The main attack on Twin Tower took place over 102 minutes on Tuesday morning of September 11th 2001. Findings from the official 9/11 Commission Report detail how four groups of hijackers took control of planes leaving airports in Boston, Newark, and Washington DC.

1. 8:46 AM EDT: American Airlines Flight 11 hits the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Everyone on board dies, along with hundreds inside the upper floors.

2. 9:03 AM EDT: United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower. Live television broadcasts capture the second crash.

3. 9:37 AM EDT: American Airlines Flight 77 strikes the western side of the Pentagon. All 59 people on the plane and 125 staff inside the building are killed.

4. 9:59 AM EDT: The South Tower falls in under 10 seconds after burning for 56 minutes, killing hundreds of workers and emergency responders.

5. 10:03 AM EDT: United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Passengers fought back against the hijackers to stop the plane from hitting its target in Washington, D.C.

6. 10:28 AM EDT: The North Tower falls after burning for 102 minutes, leaving Ground Zero covered in dust and heavy debris.

Key Facts about the Impact of September 11th 2001

Why did 9/11 Happen and How the World Remembering Twin Tower Attack?

The 9/11 attacks were planned by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who targeted the US because of its military presence and political influence in the Middle East as per the official 9/11 archival records. 

After the attack the US created the Department of Homeland Security and set up the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to screen all airline passengers.

During memorial services in New York, family members read the names of the victims out loud. The ceremony pauses for six moments of silence to mark the exact times the planes struck, the times the towers fell, and the moments the Pentagon and Flight 93 were hit. Government buildings fly flags at half-staff to honor the national day of remembrance.

The events of September 11 led to lasting changes in airport security, military policy, and foreign relations. Following the timeline of that morning keeps the history clear, honors those who died, and helps younger generations understand an event that shaped the modern world.