September 11th 2001, One of the toughest days in American history. Widely known as 9/11, this is the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. Around 3,000 lives were lost while many others were affected. Airport security was changed to what we know today because of this event. This tragedy ended up costing over twenty billion in restoration. The losses included business interruption, property damage, liabilities, workers compensation, and other factors.
September 11th 2001, started like any other day, however early that morning everything would change. American Airlines flight 11 took off from Boston Logan International Airport at 8:00 AM, however just 15 minutes later at 8:15 AM the flight was hijacked. Following the hijacking many passengers called 911 which sadly could do nothing to stop the aircraft. Many passengers were also calling family members saying their goodbyes knowing their inevitable end. The aircraft eventually hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center between the 93rd and the 99th floors. This was the first of many plane hijackings and crashings throughout the day. At first many people thought this was a terrible tragedy, however they would be terribly wrong.
The second plane was United Airlines Flight 175 that took off from Boston Logan at 8:14 AM. At 8:42 AM the aircraft was then hijacked. At 9:03 AM the aircraft hit the South Tower of the World Trade center between the 77th and 85th floors. After the second hijacking of the day and second crashing people started to panic and realize the sinister truth. The United States was under attack.
The third plane was American Airlines Flight 77 that took off from Washington Dulles International Airport at 8:20 AM. This aircraft was hijacked at 8:50. At 9:37 American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. This was the third attack of the day and the second location it had happened.
The fourth plane was United Airlines Flight 93 that took off from Newark International Airport at 8:42 AM. At 9:28 however the aircraft was hijacked. This hijacking however didn't go as planned for the assailants. The passengers said their goodbyes to friends and family and agreed that they needed to take back control of the plane knowing what would happen if they didn't. These courageous and brave people ended up saving hundreds if not thousands of lives as the target was the United States Capitol Building. They ended up crashing the plane in a field in Pennsylvania. Nobody from flight 93 survived although their bravery will always be honored and remembered by people today.
This was the last of the plane crashes, but definitely not the end of the horror show. At 10:00 AM the South Tower collapses. Sadly the panic arose yet again when the North Tower collapsed at 10:28 AM. Hundreds of police and firefighters fought and lost their lives trying to save people in both the North and South Towers. Their bravery and selflessness will always be honored and remembered by those that are still here today. Our nation came together to help one another. Whether you were Democratic or Republican or you hated another individual it did not matter. Everyone was helping everyone. Many countries soon after offered assistance and their apologies for this tragic attack.
Throughout my research of 9/11 I have realized that we as a nation need to come together more often. We do not need a huge tragedy like this to unify us. I have also realized I take what I do in everyday life for granted. You need to live everyday like it is your last. Everyone thought it would be a normal day at work, but sadly 3,000 people lost their lives. 9/11 will always be remembered as the deadliest terrorist attack in United States history, and has shaped how the world handles security.