Lower Manhattan 11 September 2001

On 11 September 2001, Flights AA11 and UA175 from Boston to Los Angeles, crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan. Each plane had been hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists. Both were Boeing 767 aircraft, with Flight AA11 carrying 87, including crew, and Flight U175 carrying 60, including crew. Flight AA11 was loaded with 20,000 gallons of fuel and crashed into the Trade Center’s 110-floor north tower at 8:46. It blew a large hole near the 80th floor, causing it to catch fire. Hundreds were killed and trapped. Seventeen minutes later, Flight UA175 hit the south tower, causing the plane to explode and the tower to catch fire. The south tower, followed by the north tower, collapsed approximately an hour and half later. Smoke and debris filled Manhattan. 2,753 people died, including 343 firefighters, 23 police officers and 37 Port Authority officers.