September 11, 2001: When the Skies of the U.S. Turned Dark

On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history, forever altering the course of global events.

Four commercial airplanes were hijacked in a carefully coordinated operation by Al-Qaeda, targeting key symbols of American power and influence.

Flight 11 and Flight 175 crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, while Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, the heart of U.S. military command.

Flight 93, delayed from its original schedule, ultimately crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after courageous passengers attempted to retake control from the hijackers.

The attacks were the result of years of meticulous planning by masterminds such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, under the approval of Osama bin Laden, and executed by the Hamburg cell, including Mohamed Atta.

These attackers trained in American flight schools, learning every detail of piloting to turn commercial airliners into weapons.

The North Tower collapsed 102 minutes after being struck, killing thousands and creating a scene of unimaginable devastation.

The events of that day not only claimed countless lives but also reshaped U.S. national security, prompted the global war on terror, and left an indelible mark on the collective memory of the world.