Timeline of the September 11 attacks


The following timeline is a chronological list of all the major events leading up to, during, and immediately following the September 11 attacks against the United States in 2001, through the first anniversary of the attacks in 2002.

Planning

DayMonthYearLocationNotes
--1992GermanyMohamed Atta arrives in Germany.
--1994PhilippinesPlanning on Operation Bojinka begins.
--1995GermanyOperation Bojinka foiled, Said Bahaji and Ramzi bin al-Shibh arrive in Germany.
--1996GermanyMarwan al-Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah arrive in Germany.
--1997GermanyZakariyah Essabar arrives in Germany.
--1998GermanyRecruitment of terrorists in Germany starts.
--1998United StatesBill Clinton warned bin Laden preparing to hijack US aircraft' inside US.
--1999Hamburg, GermanyHamburg cell is fully formed.
--1999GermanyGerman authorities monitors call to 9/11 hijacker al-Shehhi, shares information with CIA.
--1999GermanyGermans monitor call mentioning key al-Qaeda Hamburg cell members, including 9/11 hijacker Atta's full name and number.
--19999/11 hijacker Jarrah has unofficial wedding; photograph later suggests German intelligence has informant.
--1999Three 9/11 hijackers obtain US visas.
--1999Hani Hanjour obtains pilot's license despite dubious skills.
--1999GermanyGerman intelligence records calls between 9/11 hijacker al-Shehhi and others linked to al-Qaeda.
--1999United StatesPresident Clinton warned about al-Qaeda operatives living in US.
--1999Watch list importance is stressed but procedures are not followed.
--1999United StatesNSA tells CIA about planned al-Qaeda summit involving future hijackers.
--2000Malaysia and United States2000 al-Qaeda Summit in Malaysia, pilots head to the United States and attend flight training schools.
--Saudi ambassador's wife gives funds that are possibly passed to 9/11 hijackers.
--2001United StatesRemaining hijackers go to the United States, Zacarias Moussaoui goes to the United States and is arrested, other cell members flee Germany.

September 11, 2001

All times are in local time.
Time
H:M:
LocationNotes
7:59Logan International Airport, Boston, MassachusettsAmerican Airlines Flight 11 takes off from Boston Logan, bound for Los Angeles.
8:14Logan International Airport, Boston, MassachusettsUnited Airlines Flight 175 takes off from Boston Logan, also bound for Los Angeles.
8:14–8:18United States airspaceFlight 11 is hijacked.
8:20Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles, VirginiaAmerican Airlines Flight 77 takes off from Washington Dulles International Airport, also bound for Los Angeles.
8:42Newark International Airport, Newark and Elizabeth, New JerseyUnited Airlines Flight 93 takes off from Newark International Airport, bound for San Francisco International Airport.
8:42–8:46United States airspaceFlight 175 is hijacked.
8:46:40North Tower, World Trade Center, New York City, New YorkFlight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center between the 93rd and 99th floors.
8:50–8:54United States airspaceFlight 77 is hijacked.
9:03:02South Tower, World Trade Center, New York City, New YorkFlight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center between the 77th and 85th floors.
9:28United States airspaceFlight 93 is hijacked.
9:37:46The Pentagon, Arlington, VirginiaFlight 77 crashes into the western side of The Pentagon.
9:59:00South Tower, World Trade Center, New York City, New YorkThe South Tower collapses.
10:03:11Shanksville, PennsylvaniaFlight 93 crashes into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
10:28:25North Tower, World Trade Center, New York City, New YorkThe North Tower collapses.

Rest of September

September 13: On the personal orders of Queen Elizabeth II, The "Star-Spangled Banner" is played during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London, marking the first time a foreign national anthem is played outside Buckingham Palace on an occasion other than a state visit. Russia observes a minute's silence. September 14 to September 21: Worldwide stock markets plummet. September 15: CIA director George Tenet presents the Worldwide Attack Matrix.September 20: George W. Bush announces that the US is at war.

October

October 1: Rudy Giuliani speaks to the United Nations General Assembly.October 7: U.S. attack on Afghanistan commences.

Beyond October

March 2002: The Tribute in Light project begins.September 11, 2002: First anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks commemorations are held throughout the world, particularly the U.S.