3. September 11 Attacks (September 11, 2001)
On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into New York’s World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers. This unprecedented assault led to significant shifts in U.S. domestic and international policies, with its trauma continuing to influence social and political spheres. For more information, visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum’s digital exhibition.
