1980
1988: Osama bin Laden co-founds Al-Qaeda (“The Base”), a transnational jihadist militant organization.
1980
1991
1993
1993
February 26, 1993: Al-Qaeda attempts its first attack on U.S. soil, bombing the World Trade Center in New York City. Six people are killed, and thousands are injured. The bombing is traced back to terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda.
1996
1996
August 23, 1996: Osama bin Laden issued his first fatwa (religious edict) calling for attacks against U.S. interests. This fatwa, titled “Declaration of War Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places,” was published in a London-based newspaper and marked a significant escalation in his anti-American rhetoric.
1998
1998
August 7, 1998: The U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya are bombed by Al-Qaeda operatives, killing more than 200 people and injuring thousands. In retaliation, the U.S. launches missile strikes on Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan.
2000
2000
October 12, 2000: The USS Cole bombing occurs in Yemen, where Al-Qaeda militants attack a U.S. Navy destroyer, killing 17 sailors and injuring dozens.
2001
2001
January 20, 2001: U.S. President George W. Bush is inaugurated. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and other officials inherit intelligence reports about the growing threat from Al-Qaeda.
2001
August 6, 2001: The President’s Daily Briefing (PDB), titled “bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.,” is presented to President Bush. It provides details on Osama bin Laden’s network and possible threats but lacks specifics about the timing or exact methods of attack.
2001
8:46 AM: American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City (WTC 1), killing all 92 people on board and countless at the point of impact and causing a massive explosion.
2001
Morning Timeline (All times are Eastern Daylight Time – EDT):
- 8:00 AM: American Airlines Flight 11 departs from Boston, headed for Los Angeles.
- 8:14 AM: United Airlines Flight 175 departs from Boston, also bound for Los Angeles.
- 8:19 AM: American Airlines Flight 11 is hijacked by five terrorists. Flight attendant Betty Ong notifies American Airlines of the situation. The plane’s course is altered, and it heads toward New York City.
- 8:21 AM: American Airlines Flight 77 departs from Washington, also bound for Los Angeles.
- 8:42 AM: United Airlines Flight 93 departs from Newark, New Jersey, bound for San Francisco.
- 8:42 AM: United Airlines Flight 175 is hijacked by five terrorists.
- 8:51 AM: American Airlines Flight 77 is hijacked by five terrorists.
- 9:28 AM: United Airlines Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl first signals “Mayday” after the hijackers take control of the cockpit shortly after the plane passes over Cleveland, Ohio.
2001
9:03 AM: United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC 2), killing all 65 people on board and countless at the point of impact. The impact and ensuing fire cause both towers to begin collapsing.
2001
9:05 AM: President George W. Bush, who was in Florida at the time, is informed of the attack while at a school event in Sarasota by White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. He is quickly whisked away to secure locations.
2001
9:37 AM: American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing all 64 people on board and 125 individuals at the Pentagon and causing extensive damage to the U.S. military headquarters.
2001
2001
10:03 AM: United Airlines Flight 93 crashes into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers try to regain control of the plane from the hijackers. It is believed to have been headed for the White House or U.S. Capitol.
2001
Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville and Heather Penney are ordered to intercept Flight 93 with their F-16s, not knowing that the passengers had fought back and driven the plane into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
2001
2001
1:00 PM: The World Trade Center towers, once among the tallest buildings in the world, are completely destroyed. Over 2,900 people perished, including 246 passengers and crew on the planes, 343 firefighters and 23 police officers.
2001
8:00 PM: President Bush addresses the nation, confirming the attacks and vowing to hunt down those responsible.
2001
September 12: The U.S. government formally blames Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden for the attacks. The FBI begins its investigation into the identities of the hijackers.
2001
September 14: President Bush visits Ground Zero to address rescue workers.
2001
October 3, 2001: President Bush throws out the first pitch during game three of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, delivering a strike over home plate.
2001
October 7, 2001: The U.S. launches Operation Enduring Freedom, beginning airstrikes against Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The operation aims to dismantle Al-Qaeda’s training camps and infrastructure.
2001
November 19, 2001: President Bush signs the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) into law, reverting responsibility for airport security from private firms to the federal government.
2002
2002
May 30, 2002: Rescue efforts at Ground Zero officially conclude after nine months, when the final piece of steel is removed from the site. It is often referred to as “the last column.”
2002
November 2002: The Department of Homeland Security is created to coordinate U.S. national security efforts.
2003
2004
2004
July 22, 2004: The 9/11 Commission Report is published, detailing the failures leading to the attacks and recommending significant reforms to U.S. intelligence, law enforcement, and security agencies.
2008
2008
September 11, 2008 – The 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is opened to the public.
2011
2011
May 2, 2011: Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. His death is considered a major victory in the Global War on Terror.
2011
September 10, 2011: The first features at the Flight 93 National Memorial are dedicated.
2014
2014
May 21, 2014: The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is opened to the public.
2021
2021
August 30, 2021: The U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, ending the main phase of the Global War on Terror. 13 U.S. service members lost their lives during the attack on the Kabul Airport.
2024
2024
December 2024: The 9/11 Legacy Foundation is established to ensure that “We Remember 9/11” is more than just a sentiment but a responsibility carried out by all Americans.
