September 11, 2001 Attacks

The terroristische Angriffe 11. September 2001 were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by the militant Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks involved 19 hijackers who took control of four commercial airplanes, deliberately crashing them into high-profile targets. Two planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers.

Highlight: The attacks resulted in 2,996 deaths, over 6,000 injuries, and caused immense destruction, particularly in Lower Manhattan.

The al-Qaida Anschläge New York targeted symbols of American economic and military power, with the World Trade Center representing the financial heart of the country and the Pentagon serving as the headquarters of the U.S. military. The attacks had far-reaching consequences, leading to significant changes in U.S. foreign policy, domestic security measures, and the global fight against terrorism.

Vocabulary: Al-Qaeda - A militant Sunni Islamist multi-national terrorist organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden.

Details of the Hijacked Flights

The Flugzeugentführungen 9/11 detaillierte Erklärung reveals that four separate flights were hijacked on September 11, 2001. The first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 traveling from Boston to Los Angeles, was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM. This flight carried 76 passengers, including 11 crew members and 5 hijackers. Initially, many believed this to be an accident.

The second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, also a Boeing 767 en route from Boston to Los Angeles, struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 AM, just 17 minutes after the first impact. This flight had 65 passengers and 5 hijackers on board. The second impact made it clear that these were deliberate attacks.

Example: The route maps of the hijacked flights show how the terrorists deviated from the original flight paths to target specific locations in New York and Washington, D.C.

American Airlines Flight 77, the third hijacked plane, departed from Dulles International Airport bound for Los Angeles. It was taken over Ohio and crashed into the west side of the Pentagon at 9:37 AM, carrying 64 passengers. The fourth and final hijacked plane, United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757-200 traveling from Newark to San Francisco, was redirected towards Washington, D.C. However, passengers on this flight fought back against the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 AM. This flight had 33 passengers and 4 hijackers on board.

Quote: "From that moment everyone knew that this was not just an accident." - This statement refers to the realization after the second plane hit that these were intentional attacks.

Security Measures and Hijacker Tactics

The Flugzeugentführungen 9/11 detaillierte Erklärung reveals that the hijackers were able to carry out their attacks due to less stringent security measures at airports in 2001. They used a combination of weapons and tactics to overpower the crew and passengers on the planes. The hijackers employed mace spray, tear gas, and pepper spray to disorient and incapacitate people on board. These chemical irritants cause burning sensations, pain, and temporary blindness, making it difficult for others to resist.

Additionally, the terrorists were armed with knives, which they managed to smuggle past security checkpoints. They concealed these weapons behind their belts, taking advantage of the fact that passengers were not required to remove belts during security screenings at that time. When metal detectors beeped, the hijackers could claim it was due to their belt buckles, effectively hiding their true intentions.

Vocabulary: Mace spray - A self-defense chemical spray that causes irritation and temporary incapacitation when sprayed in the face.

The security protocols at airports in 2001 were significantly less rigorous compared to today's standards. This lack of thorough screening allowed the hijackers to bring their weapons on board, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the aviation security system at the time. The events of September 11, 2001, led to a complete overhaul of airport security measures worldwide, resulting in the stringent procedures we see today.

Example: Modern airport security now requires passengers to remove belts, shoes, and other items, and subjects them to more thorough screening processes, including full-body scanners and advanced X-ray machines for carry-on luggage.