9/11 Memorial - New York City Skyline 2021 Tribute in Light 20 years later

The September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11,[a] were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda[3][4][5] against the United States of America on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

On that morning, four commercial airliners traveling from the northeastern United States to California were hijacked mid-flight by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. The hijackers were organized into three groups of five hijackers and one group of four. Each group had one hijacker who had received flight training and took over control of the aircraft. Their explicit goal was to crash each plane into a prominent American building, causing mass casualities and partial or complete destruction of the targeted buildings.

The first plane to hit its target was American Airlines Flight 11. It was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan at 8:46 am. Seventeen minutes later at 9:03 am, the World Trade Center's South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175. Both 110-story towers collapsed within an hour and forty-two minutes, leading to the collapse of the other World Trade Center structures including 7 World Trade Center, and significantly damaging surrounding buildings.

A third flight, American Airlines Flight 77, flown from Dulles International Airport, was hijacked over Ohio. At 9:37 am, it crashed into the west side of the Pentagon (the headquarters of the American military) in Arlington County, Virginia, causing a partial collapse of the building's side. The fourth, and final flight, United Airlines Flight 93, was flown in the direction of Washington, D.C. This flight was the only plane not to hit its intended target, instead crashing in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 am. The plane's passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft away from the hijackers and ultimately diverted the flight from its intended target. Investigators determined that Flight 93's target was either the White House or the U.S. Capitol.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, suspicion quickly fell onto al-Qaeda. The United States formally responded by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which had not complied with U.S. demands to expel al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and extradite al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Although bin Laden initially denied any involvement, in 2004 he formally claimed responsibility for the attacks.[2] Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives. After evading capture for almost a decade, bin Laden was located in a hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan and subsequently killed during Operation Neptune Spear.

The destruction of the World Trade Center and nearby infrastructure seriously harmed the economy of New York City and created a global economic recession. Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. The U.S. and Canadian civilian airspaces were closed until September 13, while Wall Street trading was closed until September 17. Many closings, evacuations, and cancellations followed, out of respect or fear of further attacks. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002, and the Pentagon was repaired within a year. The construction of the World Trade Center complex's replacement began in November 2006, and the building opened in November 2014.[6][7]

The attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries, and substantial long-term health consequences, in addition to at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.[8][9] It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in human history and the single deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 340[10] and 72 killed,[11][12] respectively. Numerous memorials have been constructed, including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial at the Pennsylvania crash site.

[fran-kittyayers]

R.I.P WE WILL NEVER FORGET, 20YRS BUT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY, GOD BLESS ALL WHO HAVE LOST AND STILL LOSING LOVED ONES.

[thetrimreaper]

Just beautiful. What a video of remembrance. Job well done. We shall never forget!!!!

[rayvenschreidell]

I was in my third grade class, learning about history when my school's princple came onto the PA system and told the teachers who taught third, fourth, and fifth grade to turn on the tv's to Channel Seven news at around 10:30 in the morning. Just in time to watch the North Tower start to fall. I will never forget hearing my name bein called down to the office and seeing my mother and my father standing there, fear, anger, and so much hatred for what had happened to our country. No. To the WORLD that day. The attacks on that day were not just attacks against the American infrustraction and our government but when they attacked the Twin Towers, that was an attack on the world. It brought us together as humans. Why have we forgotten what it means to be patriotich? 20 years ago I was eight years old when America was attacked. 20 years later, I still remember and will continue to remember.

[Whooachannel]

I was 12yrs old and in the 7th grade when the attacks happened. Its so weird to think 20yrs have passed since then.

It feels like it happened both yesterday and a lifetime ago. Its mind blowing to know that there are kids alive right now that have no idea about 9/11 and it means nothing to them when it was such a big event in my own childhood

[lorettahiggins]

I was teaching my Fourth Grade class that morning. One of the students in my class lost her good friend, Fr. Mychal Judge (the NYC Fire Department Chaplain) that day. The sky today - 20 years later - is the exact same gorgeous, clear, blue sky from that terrible day.
*As a former teacher I must point out that in your opening sequel the word "Memorial" is misspelled.

[blancarosales]

I missed them so much I was only 6 years old when it happened.

[jaytunes]

I was 10 years old in the 5th grade when 9/11 happened. This is just My heart an prayers go out to the ones who lost their lives an their families 🙏🏾

[sanbornolsen]

I believe their souls are flying in those lights and their angels looking down. They would love this tribute all 3000 of them

[jonnnyren]

I was in Texas then. I was 5 years old and I just got up from bed. About 20 minutes later my Dad came home from work crying. He told us of the attacks and we watched everything unfold. The next week, he came home crying and said he lost his job at American Airlines. I had no idea.

[Minimalicius]

I was almost 13 years old living in Greece at the time.. I was doing my homework. My mom was ironing clothes in the living room with the TV on when I heard her calling my name. I ran to the living room and saw the first tower burning.. Few minutes later we both watched live the 2nd plane crashing on the other tower.. I'll never forget it!

[joeydelrosario]

I'm in 12 year of my aged inside of rehabilitation waiting to finish my 6 month probation when local t.v flashes whats going on in New York, cant imagined that plane hit the building knowing some of my relatives work in the spot, in the bed bunk I sat watching while giving me goose bumps caused I know that I'll be heading in New York when I come out preparing my self for new set of life which is hard to forget when it really seen happen with my own eyes currently. R.I.P Lost Innocent Soul of World Trade Center as well Pentagon.

[thatflatdude]

Last Sunday I invited my gf to watch a YouTube documentary titled '9/11 Life Under Attack'. We both cried at most of the video. Seeing this video of yours makes me feel something, sadness, relief, I dunno exactly, it's mixed. Thanks for this beautiful video bro.

[derekcoaker]

Is this happening now? I am close to the city, would love to see it.

[lifenoodle]

I was less than a year old when 9/11 happened, so I don’t remember it well. My mom worked in the world trade center for several years before the attacks and she lost friends and coworkers that day. Rest in peace to the victims of this tragedy.

[ahnafabedin]

here before it blows up





(the video)

[herrwichtig]

i was at home, watching pokemon. to be honest, i was 12 years old and didnt even know what the wtc was. as a european i knew from films but hadnt an idea what the name of the towers were until that day

[ewitaEwaKowalska]

I still remeber what happened on that horrible day. I had 27 yeas old and i worked in Wisconsin. I'm a man but i cried like child on that day....

[Sphere]

I was in the air when 9/11 happened. I was just a piece of thin air. I was -8 years old that time

[xzaveusgriffin]

i was inside tower one when 9/11 happened I remember all of a sudden the ground shaking

[TheMadeson]

I was at my office off the kitchen in a hotel i worked at in Halifax, Nova SCOTIA, Canada and my wife called me and said a plane hit the World trade center and we have a world trade center convention building in Halifax. i thought thats what she meant so i yelled out to my coworkers that a plane just crashed into ours but than my wife said not ours but in New York, thats when the nightmare began!!!