September 11, 2001, went down as one of the most tragic days in modern U.S. history. In just a few hours, four commercial airplanes were hijacked and used in a series of attacks that claimed thousands of lives and forever changed the New York City skyline. More than two decades after the attacks, the stories of those who survived, as well as the history of the Twin Towers, remain part of the collective memory.
What Happened to the Survivors of 9/11?
Thousands of people managed to escape the World Trade Center buildings before the Twin Towers collapsed. They included office workers, visitors, emergency responders, and people who were in the surrounding area.
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Survivors later had to deal with the physical and psychological consequences of the attacks. Many were exposed to smoke, dust, and contaminants released when the structures collapsed. Over the years, some developed respiratory illnesses, various types of cancer, and other conditions linked to exposure to World Trade Center dust.
Some survivors also took part in rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts in the months that followed. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, construction workers, and volunteers were exposed to the conditions at the site for extended periods.
What Happened in the 9/11 Attack on the Twin Towers?
On the morning of September 11, 2001, members of Al Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes operating within the United States. Two of them were used in attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
The first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Shortly afterward, at 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. The impacts caused massive fires and structural damage to both buildings.
At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed. The North Tower remained standing for several more minutes before collapsing at 10:28 a.m. The collapses sent a massive cloud of dust and debris across much of Lower Manhattan.
The other two hijacked planes were also used in the attacks. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, while United Airlines Flight 93 went down in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
How Many People Died in the 9/11 Attacks?
A total of 2,977 people were killed in the September 11 attacks, not including the 19 hijackers. Most of the victims died in New York City, while others were killed at the Pentagon and aboard the hijacked flights.
The victims included citizens from numerous countries and people from a wide range of professions. In New York City, those killed included workers inside the Twin Towers and other buildings in the complex, as well as firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other emergency responders who rushed to the scene.
History of the Twin Towers
The Twin Towers were part of the World Trade Center, a business complex built in Lower Manhattan. Construction of the North Tower began in 1968, followed by the South Tower in 1969. Both were completed and opened in the early 1970s.
Each tower had 110 floors and stood approximately 1,368 and 1,362 feet tall, respectively, to the rooftops. For a time, they were the tallest buildings in the world and became two of New York City’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.
The complex housed offices for numerous companies and organizations and welcomed large numbers of workers and visitors every day. In addition to the two main towers, the World Trade Center included several other buildings and commercial spaces.
On February 26, 1993, the complex was already the target of a terrorist attack when a bomb exploded in its underground parking garage. The September 11, 2001, attacks, however, destroyed the Twin Towers and permanently changed the Lower Manhattan skyline.
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Survivors of the 9/11 attacks later had to deal with the physical and psychological consequences of the attacks Read More