Terrorists struck the United States Tuesday morning in harrowing, widespread attacks that included at least three commercial jet crashes into significant buildings.
In the first attack, a plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by another plane into the second tower about 20 minutes later. Both towers later collapsed.
American Airlines told CNN that it lost two planes in "tragic accidents :" Flight 11 from Boston with 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard and Flight 77 from Washington Dulles airport with 58 passengers and six crew aboard. Both planes were en route to Los Angeles
About an hour later, a plane crashed into the Pentagon, part of which later collapsed.
United Airlines Flight 93 airliner headed from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, crashed near Somerset, Pennsylvania -- police said initial reports indicated no survivors. It was not known if this was connected to the attacks. United also said it was "deeply concerned" about Flight l75 from Boston to Los Angeles.
The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in Washington evacuated.
In the first ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide have been stopped at their departure airports.
All international flights were diverted to Canada.
Israel has evacuated all its missions around the world.
President Bush cancelled an appearance in Florida to return to Washington, calling the crashes "apparent terrorist attacks" and "a national tragedy."
In Chicago, the Sears Tower was evacuated; United Nations in New York evacuated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta was evacuated. CDC was preparing bioterrorism teams in case they become necessary.
The New York Port Authority said it had closed all bridges and tunnels into the city.
New York's Bellevue Hospital was designated command central for handling the catastrophe. Several hospitals have already reported receiving victims with burns and head injuries.
U.S. stock markets were closed after the New York attacks.
NATO sent home all non-essential personnel from its Brussels, Belgium, headquarters.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has put the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada on highest state of alert.
Border between the United States and Mexico closed.
Los Angeles International Airport has been evacuated.
All Disney parks in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California have been closed.
FEMA implements plan established for such events :
FBI leads investigation, Justice Dept. heads crisis management.
Three Palestinian groups -- Hamas, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Islamic Jihad -- deny responsibility for the attacks, but blame U.S. policies in the Mideast.
Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, D.C., declares a state of emergency.
A Delta flight makes emergency landing in Cleveland and all passengers are safely evacuated. Federal officials search the plane for a possible bomb.
8:45 a.m.
A large plane, possibly a hijacked airliner, crashes into one of the World Trade Center towers, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire.
9:03 a.m.
A second plane, apparently a passenger jet, crashes into the second World Trade Center tower and explodes. Both buildings are burning.
9:17 a.m.
The FAA shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 a.m.
New York City Port Authority orders all bridges and tunnels in the New York City area closed
9:30 a.m.
Bush, speaking in Florida, says the country has suffered an "apparent terrorist attack."
Plane hits WTC
9:40 a.m.
The FAA halts all flight operations at U.S. airports, the first time in U.S. history that air traffic nationwide has been halted.
9:43 a.m.
An aircraft crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 a.m.
The White House evacuates.
9:57 a.m.
Bush departs from Florida.
10:05 a.m.
The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses, plummeting into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly drifts away from the building.
Pentagon burns
10:08 a.m.
Secret Service agents armed with automatic rifles are deployed into Lafayette Park across from the White House.
10:10 a.m.
A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 a.m.
United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh.
10:13 a.m.
The United Nations building evacuates, including 4,700 people from the headquarters building and 7,000 total from UNICEF and U.N. development programs.
10:22 a.m.
In Washington, the State and Justice departments are evacuated, along with the World Bank.
10:24 a.m.
The FAA reports that all inbound transatlantic aircraft flying into the United States are being diverted to Canada.
Pennsylvania crash scene
10:28 a.m.
The World Trade Center's north tower collapses from the top down as if it were being peeled apart, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and smoke.
10:45 a.m.
All federal office buildings in Washington are evacuated.
10.46 a.m.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell cuts short his trip to Latin America to return to the United States.
First tower falls
10.48 a.m.
Police confirm the crash of a large plane in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:53 a.m.
New York's primary elections scheduled for today are postponed.
10:54 a.m.
Israel evacuates all diplomatic missions.
10:57 a.m.
New York Gov. George Pataki says all state government offices are closed.
11:02 a.m.
Giuliani urges New Yorkers to stay at home and orders an evacuation of the area south of Canal Street.
11:16 a.m.
CNN reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing emergency-response teams in a precautionary move.
11:18 a.m.
American Airlines reports it has lost two aircraft. American Flight 11, a Boeing 767 flying from Boston to Los Angeles, had 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard. Flight 77, a Boeing 757 en route from Washington's Dulles Airport to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members aboard. Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
11:26 a.m.
United Airlines reports that United Flight 93, en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, has crashed in Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The airline also says that it is "deeply concerned" about United Flight 175.
11:59 a.m.
United Airlines confirms that Flight 175, from Boston to Los Angeles, has crashed with 56 passengers and nine crew members aboard. Emergency personnel at the scene say there are no survivors.
12:04 p.m.
Los Angeles International Airport is evacuated.
12:15 p.m.
San Francisco International Airport is evacuated and shut down. The airport was the destination of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania.
Second tower falls
12:15 p.m.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service says U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico are on the highest state of alert, but no decision has been made about closing borders.
12:30 p.m.
The FAA says 50 flights are in U.S. airspace, but none are reporting any problems.
1:04 p.m.
Bush, speaking from Barksdale Air Force Base, says that all appropriate security measures are being taken, including putting the U.S. military on high alert worldwide. He asks for prayers for those killed or wounded in the attacks and says: "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."
1:27 p.m.
A state of emergency is declared by the city of Washington.
1:44 p.m.
The Pentagon says five warships and two aircraft carriers will leave the U.S. Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia, to protect the East Coast from further attack and to reduce the number of ships in port. The two carriers, the USS George Washington and the USS John F. Kennedy, are headed for the New York coast. The other ships headed to sea are frigates and guided missile destroyers capable of shooting down aircraft.
1:48 p.m.
President Bush leaves Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana aboard Air Force One and flies to an undisclosed location.
"Attacks cowardly"
2 p.m.
Senior FBI sources tell CNN they are working on the assumption that the four airplanes that crashed were hijacked as part of a terrorist attack.
2:30 p.m.
The FAA announces there will be no U.S. commercial air traffic until noon EDT Wednesday.
2:49 p.m.
At a news conference, Giuliani says that subway and bus service are restored in New York City. Asked about the number of people killed, Giuliani says, "I don't think we want to speculate about that -- more than any of us can bear."
3:55 p.m.
Karen Hughes, a White House counselor, says the president is at an undisclosed location, later revealed to be an Air Force base in Nebraska, and is conducting a National Security Council meeting by phone. Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice are in a security facility at the White House. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is at the Pentagon.
3:55 p.m.
Giuliani now says the number of critically injured in New York City is up to 200 with 2,100 total injuries reported.
4 p.m
CNN National Security Correspondent David Ensor reports that U.S. officials say there are "good indications" that bin Laden is involved in the attacks, based on "new and specific" information developed since the attacks.
4:06 p.m.
California Gov. Gray Davis dispatches urban search-and-rescue teams to New York City.
4:10 p.m.
Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex is reported on fire.
New York Mayor Giuliani
4:20 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Florida, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, says he was "not surprised there was an attack (but) was surprised at the specificity." He says he was "shocked at what actually happened -- the extent of it."
4:25 p.m.
The American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange say they will remain closed Wednesday.
4:30 p.m.
The president
leaves Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska aboard Air Force One to return to Washington.
Soot-covered man
5:15 p.m.
CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre reports fires are still burning in part of the Pentagon. No death figures have been released yet.
5:20 p.m.
The 47-story Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex collapses. The evacuated building is damaged when the twin towers across the street collapse earlier in the day. Other nearby buildings in the area remain ablaze.
5:30 p.m.
CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King reports that U.S. officials say the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania could have been headed for one of three possible targets: Camp David, the White House or the U.S. Capitol building.
6 p.m.
Explosions
are heard in Kabul, Afghanistan, hours after terrorist attacks targeted financial and military centers in the United States. The attacks occurred at 2:30 a.m. local time. Afghanistan is believed to be the home of Saudi militant Osama bin Laden, who U.S. officials say is possibly behind Tuesday's deadly attacks. U.S. officials say later that the United States had no involvement in the incident whatsoever.
6:10 p.m.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani urges New Yorkers to stay home Wednesday if they can.
Stunned onlookers
6:40 p.m.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld holds a news conference in the Pentagon, noting the building is operational.
"It will be in business tomorrow," he says.
6:54 p.m.
Bush arrives back at the White House aboard Marine One and is scheduled to address the nation at 8:30 p.m. The president earlier landed at Andrews Air Force Base with a three-fighter jet escort. CNN's John King reports Laura Bush arrived earlier by motorcade from a "secure location."
7:17 p.m.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft says the FBI is setting up a Web site for tips on the attacks: www.ifccfbi.gov. He also says family and friends of possible victims can leave contact information at 800-331-0075.
7:02 p.m.
CNN's Paula Zahn reports the Marriott Hotel near the World Trade Center is on the verge of collapse and says some New York bridges are now open to outbound traffic.
WTC devastation
7:45 p.m.
The New York Police Department says that at least 78 officers are missing. The city also says that as many as half of the first 400 firefighters on the scene were killed.
8:30 p.m.
President Bush addresses the nation, saying
"thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil" and asks for prayers for the families and friends of Tuesday's victims.
"These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," he says. The president says the U.S. government will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed the acts and those who harbor them. He adds that government offices in Washington are reopening for essential personnel Tuesday night and for all workers Wednesday.
9:22 p.m.
CNN's McIntyre reports the fire at the Pentagon is still burning and is considered contained but not under control.
9:57 p.m.
Giuliani says New York City schools will be closed Wednesday and no more volunteers are needed for Tuesday evening's rescue efforts. He says there is hope that there are still people alive in rubble. He also says that power is out on the westside of Manhattan and that health department tests show there are no airborne chemical agents about which to worry.
10:49 p.m.
CNN Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl reports that Attorney General Ashcroft told members of Congress that there were three to five hijackers on each plane armed only with knives.
10:56 p.m.
CNN's Zahn reports that New York City police believe there are people alive in buildings near the World Trade Center.
11:54 p.m.
CNN Washington Bureau Chief Frank Sesno reports that a government official told him there was an open microphone on one of the hijacked planes and that sounds of discussion and "duress" were heard. Sesno also reports a source says law enforcement has "credible" information and leads and is confident about the investigation.
* Up to 20,000 in collapsed towers
* Up to 800 dead in Pentagon
* 300 firefighters missing in New York
* 266 dead on hijacked jets
* Several survivors pulled out
* Mobile calls from trapped victims
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
The Washington Post
Hotlines
U.S. Justice Department's Family Assistance Center Victims Hotline : 1 - 800 - 331 - 0075
Anyone with information about Tuesdays terrorist attacks are being asked to contact the FBI at 1 - 866 - 483 - 5137
Officials at the Pentagon are asking Army personnel assigned to the Pentagon on Sept. 11
(or families trying to locate their loved ones) to call 1 - 800 - 984 - 8523 or 703 - 428 - 0002.
. Navy and Marine personnel assigned to the Pentagon should call 1 - 877 - 663 - 6772.
The Office of Victims of Crime has established a hotline at 1 - 800 - 331 - 0075
to leave contact information to get more details about victims and survivors.
Business Listings in the World Trade Center
Airlines
American Airlines
1 - 800 - 245 - 0999
United Airlines
1 - 800 - 932 - 8555
Pentagon
1 - 877 - 663 - 6772
Transit
Metro
1 - 202 - 637 - 1328
VRE
1 - 800 - RIDE VRE
Amtrak
1 - 800 - USA - RAIL
MARC
BLOOD DRIVE INFORMATION
The Red Cross will be take walk-in blood donations throughout the week. Donor centers with expanded hours include
The Rockville Donor Center in the Saratoga Building on Parklawn Drive.
Fairfax Donor Center on Old Lee Highway.
The Red Cross Center on Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia.
The Red Cross Center on York Road in Towson.
The Red Cross Center on Honeygo Blvd. in White Marsh. Lines may be long, so officials are urgining you to remain patient.
If you want to donate blood through the Red Cross, the best thing to do is call (800) GIVE-LIFE or (800) GIVE-BLOOD to set up an appointment.
Inova's Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, Woodburn Donor Center and Centerville Centers are all accepting blood donations. But because of such high numbers of possible donors, people are being asked to go to the Woodburn Donor Center, which is open 24 hours a day.
As more and more people line up for donations, there is also a need for food. If you want to donate money for food and other necessities to the Red Cross, the number to call is 1-800-HELP-NOW, and specify "Disaster Relief Fund."
If you have a medical background and and you want to help, contact your local American Red Cross office.
The National Institutes of Health is taking donations in Building 10-A from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call 301-496-1048 to make an appointment.
Family members of any victims can call the Washington Hospital Center at (202) 784-2264. Other victims have been taken to other area hospitals with various injuries.
Virginia Hospital Center has a hotline families can call at (703) 558-6763. The Salvation Army is accepting cash donations at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
To Give Blood
American Red Cross : 1-800-HELP-NOW
New York Blood Center : 1-800-933-BLOOD
To Make Financial Contributions
American Red Cross : 1-800-HELP-NOW
United Way : 1-212-251-4035
Salvation Army : 1-800-SAL-ARMY
To Volunteer Services (New York)
FEMA World Trade Center Relief : 1-800-801-8092
September 13, 2001
The Associated Press
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Thursday that 4,763 people have been reported as missing after the World Trade Center attack.
That number is
Gore Report on Aviation Safety
