Chronology of a disastrous day

Chronology of a disastrous day

Sept. 12, 2001

8:45 a.m. EDT — A large hijacked commercial airline crashes into one of the World Trade Center towers, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire.

9:03 a.m. — A second plane, also a passenger jet reportedly hijacked, crashes full speed into the second World Trade Center tower and explodes. Both buildings are burning. Rescue missions arrive.

9:40 a.m. — The FAA halts all flight operations at U.S. airports, the first time in U.S. history that air traffic nationwide has been halted until further notice.

9:43 a.m. — Another passenger airline crashes into the Pentagon, in Washington D.C. causing enormous damage and prompting massive evacuations of the Pentagon, the White House, The Capitol, and federal government buildings.

10:05 and 10:28 a.m. — The twin towers of the World Trade Center collapse plummeting into the chaotic streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly drifts away from the building.

10:10 a.m. — A portion of the Pentagon collapses.

10:10 a.m. — United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. Authorities suspect the plane was also hijacked by terrorists.

10:24 a.m. — The FAA reports that all inbound transatlantic aircraft flying into the United States are being diverted to Canada.

11:16 a.m. —: The Center of Disease Control and Prevention is preparing bioterroism teams to respond to the incidents in a precautionary move.

11:18 a.m. — American Airlines reports it has lost two aircraft. American Flight 11, a Boeing 767 flying from Boston to Los Angeles, and Flight 77, a Boeing 757 en route from Dulles Airport near Washington to Los Angeles. Flight 11 is believed to be one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center.

11:26 a.m. — United Airlines reports United Flight 93, en route from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco, has crashed near Pittsburgh. Fifty-six passengers are killed.

2:45 p.m. EDT — The FAA announces that the remaining 50 domestic flights in U.S. airspace have safely landed.