11 Septembre 2001: What Happened on 9/11? Facts, Survivors & Pentagon Toll

The date 11 septembre 2001 marks a very sad and important day in history. On this day, a series of terrible terrorist attacks happened in the United States. These events are often called the September 11 attacks, or simply 9/11.

What Occurred on September 11, 2001?

On the morning of 11 septembre 2001, a terrorist group named Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, hijacked four large airplanes. Their plan was to crash these planes into important buildings.

• The first plane, Flight 11, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City.
• About 17 minutes later, a second plane, Flight 175, hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center. These famous buildings were known as the Twin Towers. Both towers caught fire and later collapsed completely.
• The third plane, Flight 77, was flown into the Pentagon, a large building that is the headquarters for the U.S. military, located in Arlington, Virginia.
• The fourth plane, Flight 93, was likely heading for another target in Washington, D.C., but the brave passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers. Because of their actions, the plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, saving many lives on the ground.

In total, nearly 3,000 people died in these attacks. It was a day that changed many things around the world. The timeline of these events is a crucial part of remembering the day.

Did Anyone on the Top Floors Survive 9/11?

The impact of the planes and the fires made it very difficult to escape, especially from the higher floors of the Twin Towers. In the North Tower, no one who was on the floors where the plane hit (floors 93 to 99) or above them survived.

However, in the South Tower, a small number of people, around 18, who were at or above the impact zone (floors 77 to 85) did manage to survive. This was often due to a lucky break, like one stairwell (Stairwell A) remaining open even after the plane hit. For example, Brian Clark, who worked on the 84th floor, and Stanley Praimnath, from the 81st floor, were two of these remarkable survivors from the South Tower who helped each other escape.

How Many People Died at the Pentagon on 9/11?

When Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, it resulted in a significant loss of life. In total, 184 people died at the Pentagon on 9/11. This number includes all 59 people who were on board American Airlines Flight 77, as well as 125 people who were inside the Pentagon building itself. The 9/11 Pentagon Memorial was later created to remember all those who were lost there.

Which Celebrity Almost Died in 9/11?

Many people had close calls on 9/11, and some famous individuals were among them. Here are a few celebrities who almost died:

• Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the TV show Family Guy, was supposed to be on Flight 11, the first plane to hit the World Trade Center. He missed the flight by just 10 to 15 minutes because he overslept and was given the wrong departure time.
• Actor Mark Wahlberg was also scheduled to be on Flight 11 but changed his travel plans shortly before that day.
• Music superstar Michael Jackson was supposed to have a meeting at the World Trade Center on September 11 but thankfully overslept after staying up late the night before.
• Sarah Ferguson, also known as the Duchess of York, had an office for her charity on the 101st floor of the North Tower. She was running late for a TV interview, which saved her life.

The events of 11 septembre 2001 were a global tragedy, but also showed incredible acts of heroism and the strength of the human spirit. Today, memorials like the 9/11 Memorial in New York stand as places to remember the victims and the profound impact of that day.