Timeline of the September 11, 2001 Attacks

Lead: On Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, the nation looks back at the pivotal 24-hour sequence of Sept. 11, 2001, when hijacked airliners struck the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania, killing 2,977 people and altering U.S. history.

Nut Graf: Understanding the precise timeline-from the first impact at 8:46 a.m. to the final collapse at 10:28 a.m.-remains vital as the nation honors victims, reflects on heroism and reinforces its commitment to “never forget.”

Morning Strikes

• 8:46 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into floors 93-99 of the North Tower (1 WTC), triggering the sequence of terror.
• 9:03 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175 slams into floors 77-85 of the South Tower (2 WTC), doubling the catastrophe.
• 9:37 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 77 strikes the Pentagon’s western side near Washington, D.C., igniting a fierce fire.

Tower Collapses

• 9:59 a.m. - The South Tower collapses 56 minutes after impact, sending debris and dust across Lower Manhattan.
• 10:03 a.m. - Passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 mount a counterattack; hijackers divert the jet toward an empty field in Shanksville, PA.
• 10:28 a.m. - The North Tower falls, leaving a 16-acre ruin at Ground Zero and initiating the arduous rescue and recovery effort.

Friday’s observances underscore both the harrowing events of that morning and the enduring spirit of resilience that emerged on Sept. 12, 2001-when teachers returned to classrooms, builders resumed construction and the nation demonstrated its capacity to rise from tragedy.