SEPTEMBER 11 2001 THE DAY THE WORLD CHANGED

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 THE DAY THE WORLD CHANGED THE EVENTS OF 9/11

Terrorism • Terrorism refers only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror); actions perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; that deliberately targets or disregards the safety of non-combatants (civilians). • Terrorists are often labeled as criminals, crusaders or crazies • From the terrorist’s point of view, most are crusaders

The events of September 11, 2001 ushered in a new world. America found itself at war not just on foreign battlefields, but also with ourselves. Times of crisis often lead to governments infringing on the rights of citizens in the name of safety and emergency expedience. 9/11 was no different. More than twenty years later, we are still experiencing the fallout of what happened that day.

September 11, 2001 • 4 planes • 2 WTC, 1 Pentagon & United 93 • Terrorist Organization- Al. Qaeda • Jihad- Holy War on the west • Leader- Osama Bin Laden #1 FBI list 10 years • Al Qaeda- Cited U. S. support of Israel, troops in Saudi Arabia and sanctions on Iraq

In New York City, at the Pentagon, and in the fields of Shanksville, PA. , airliners became weapons of terror…

Not long after, a second plane strikes Tower II…

The attacking aircraft turned the Twin Towers complex into an inferno, attacking from two different directions…

Minutes after the planes impacted, First Responders raced to evacuate civilians and wounded, at often great cost to themselves.

With the fires raging unchecked, the unthinkable eventually happens – the towers collapse. Much of the loss of life associated with the attacks comes from the millions of tons of concrete and steel that crashed into the streets as the towers gave way.

Armies of First Responders dove into the wreckage to save those they could, but too many victims did not make it out alive…

While a shocked nation focused its attention on the tragedy of the Twin Towers, another airliner was streaking towards Washington, D. C. to strike another blow… The Pentagon Attack

THE HIJACKERS At around 7: 15 a. m. hijackers Nawaf Alhazmi (scan) gets searched, Khalid Almihdhar (white), and Hani Hanjour (black) board Flight 77. Though they exhibit suspicious behavior and set off several metal detectors, but they are cleared to continue after a brief screening of their luggage.

THE TAKEOFF Flight 77 departed from Dulles International Airport almost ten minutes late. The plane contained 58 passengers, four flight attendants, two pilots, 10, 000 gallons of fuel, and unfortunately three hijackers

THE LAST TRANSMISSION After nearly a half hour of flying the pilot asked for clearance to fly higher This would be the last transmission heard from Flight 77 It is theorized that the plane was hijacked shortly after this transmission because the pilot failed to respond to a routine instruction that he was given after this transmission.

THE HIJACKING Renee May and Barbara Olsen made phone calls reporting that the hijackers gained control of the plane using knives and box cutters. A few minutes later the plane disappeared from radar screens and began to veer off course heading southwest.

THE IMPACT Flight 77 turned around in a circle heading for the Pentagon. A contract crew who had been doing renovations on the southwest perimeter of the Pentagon were informed of the attack on the World Trade centers and were advised to get out of the building. Moments later at 9: 37 a. m. , Flight 77 hit the west wall of the Pentagon.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE… Ironically enough, the West side was the only section of the Pentagon that had just been renovated and was near completion at the time of the attack. It was the only section with a sprinkler system and had been reinforced with steel columns to protect it from bomb blasts. This section also had blast proof windows Because of these renovations only 800 people were working in the affected area as opposed to the 4, 500 who normally work in that section

• Top: Hole caused by the impact. • Bottom: Some windows stay intact even after the blast.

THE CASUALTIES All 64 people on the plane were killed. One hundred-and-twenty-four people working in the building were killed, and one other victim died in hospital several days later.

United Flight 93

FLIGHT INFORMATION • Destination – Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco, California • Loaded with approximately 11, 400 gallons of jet feul

THE HIJACKERS • Ziad Jarrah • Saeed al Ghamdi • Ahmed al Haznawi • Ahmed al Nami

THE DEPARTURE • The flight left Newark at 8: 42 • At this time the flight crew and passengers were still unaware of the multiple hijackings that occurred that morning. • United 93 was delayed 25 minutes due to the airport’s heavy morning traffic.

REALIZATIONS • Around 9: 00 the FAA were informed of the apparent multiple hijackings. • At this time they did not yet act to warn other aircraft in the air that they too might be at risk. • Once the FAA comprehended that the attackers were going after multiple aircraft they radioed all aircraft in air to increase cockpit security and also grounded all flights.

THE MESSAGE • Flight Controller Ed Ballinger took the initiative to begin transmitting warnings to his 16 transcontinental flights, including United 93. • “Beware any cockpit intrusion- Two a/c (aircraft) hit World Trade Center. ”

MISCOMMUNICATION • Since Ballinger was still responsible for his other flights, including Flight 175 that crashed into the World Trade Center, his warning message was not transmitted to Flight 93 until 9: 23.

THE FLIGHT • The first 46 minutes of Flight 93’s crosscountry trip proceeded routinely. – Radio communications from the plane were normal – Heading, speeding and altitude ran according to plan

THE FLIGHT PATH • The hijackers attacked at 9: 28 • As United 93 neared Cleveland, Ohio it abruptly changed course, heading southeast in the direction of Washington, D. C.

HIJACKING • While traveling 35, 000 feet above eastern Ohio, United 93 suddenly dropped 700 feet. • Eleven seconds into the descent, the FAA’s air traffic control center in Cleveland received the first of the two radio transmissions from the aircraft.

THE FIRST BROADCAST • The captain or first officer could be heard declaring “Mayday” amid the sounds of physical struggle in the cockpit.

THE SECOND BROADCAST • 35 seconds later air traffic control center received another radio transmission. • The captain or first officer indicated that the fight was continuing. The captain or first officer could be heard shouting: “Hey get out of here- get out of here. ”

9: 32 A. M. • A hijacker, probably Jarrah, attempted to make the following announcement to the passengers of Flight 93: – “Ladies and Gentlemen: Here the captain, please sit down keep remaining sitting. We have a bomb on board. So, sit. ”

STRUGGLE • The cockpit voice recorder data indicated that a woman most likely a flight attendant, was held captive in the cockpit until one of the hijackers killed or otherwise silenced her.

PHONE CALLS • Shortly after the cockpit was seized the passengers and flight crew began a series of calls from the GTE air phones and cellular phones. • They enabled the passengers to gain critical information. • To hear 3 calls: • https: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=Od. DYMIKIEl. I

PHONE CALLS • At least 10 passengers and 2 crew members shared vital information with family, friends, or others on the ground. – All understood the plane had been hijacked – The hijackers wielded knives and claimed to have a bomb – The hijackers were wearing red bandanas

PHONE CALLS • More vital information shared: – The hijackers forced the passengers to the back of the aircraft – A passenger had been stabbed – 2 people were lying on the floor of the cabin, injured or dead – One flight attendant had been killed – The calls reveal the passengers’ intent to retake the plane

THE REVOLT • According to 1 call, the passengers and crew voted on whether to rush the terrorists in an attempt to retake the plane. • They decided, and acted.

9: 57 • The passenger and crew member assault began. • The cockpit voice recorder captured sounds of passenger assaults muffled by the intervening cockpit door.

HIJACKERS’ RESPONSE • In response to the attack, Jarrah immediately began to roll the airplane from left to right attempting to knock the passengers off balance. • At 9: 58: 57 Jarrah told another hijacker in the cockpit to block the door. • At 9: 52 Jarrah changed tactics and pitched the nose of the airplane up and down. • Jarrah’s attempts to stop the assault failed and he stabilized the airplane at 10: 03.

QUESTIONING THE DESTINATION • At 10: 05: 03 Jarrah asked his fellow hijacker, “Is that it? Shall we finish it off? ” • The hijacker responded, “No. Not yet. When they all come, we finish it off. ” • The sounds of fighting continued outside of the cockpit.

VOICE RECORDINGS • Jarrah pitched the nose of the aircraft up and down. • The voice recorder in the cockpit recorded the passengers yelling “In the cockpit. If we don’t we’ll die!” and “Roll it!”

VOICE RECORDINGS • At 10: 01: 00 Jarrah began chanting, “Allah is the greatest!” • He then asked another hijacker in the cockpit, “Is that it? I mean, shall we put it down? ” • The hijacker replied, “Yes, put it in it, and pull it down. ”

THE LAST RESORT • The assault continued and at 10: 02: 23, a hijacker screamed, “Pull it down!” • The hijackers remained at the controls but must have judged that the passengers were only seconds from overcoming them. • The airplane headed down with the control wheel turned hard to the right.

THE LAST RESORT • Amidst the screams and fighting, the chanting of the hijackers could still be heard, “Allah is the greatest. ” • The aircraft plowed into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 580 miles per hour, about 20 minutes flying time from Washington, D. C.

THE FLIGHT 93 MEMORIAL This is the impact field where Flight 93 came down. Today it is covered with wildflowers, and deer and other wildlife often play there. The field is also off limits to everyone else except the families of the heroes who were aboard that plane, because the field still contains more than ninety percent of the remains of those who died in the crash. It is, and will remain, hallowed ground.

9/11 Aftermath • Racial profiling/Hate Crimes • War on Terror- Iraq/Afghanistan • Patriot Act - Data collection • Health effects toxic dust • Culture of post- 9/11 will never go back • 9/11 Commission- Studied the Government • Rebuild NYC • 2900+ dead

Issues during 9/11 attacks • Lack of communications between agencies • FBI, CIA, NSA, TSA did not communicate • Lack of communications on the ground between first responders • 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center should’ve warned of threat

INTERACTION OF BRANCHES POST 9 -11 Legislative: Created Patriot Act, Allocated Funds for War, Drones, Guantanamo Bay, Immigration Laws post 9 -11, Congress allocates funds for Homeland, Torture Executive: Signed Patriot Act and enforces it, Oversee the NSA, Commander in chief over wars, drone strikes, enforces the immigration laws, Created Homeland Security position and oversee Judicial: Courts ruled on Constitutionality of laws created. Warrants for spying.

War on Terrorism begins • Sept. 14 th 2001 – Congress authorizes military action in retaliation for 9/11 (NOT a declaration of war) • War waged on terrorism and those who support terrorist anywhere in the world, especially against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban • Oct. 7 th- U. S. begins attacks against Taliban in Afghanistan by Nov. 12 th, Taliban flees city • 2003 - Invasion of Iraq - Saddam Hussein