Expository Writing Assignment - completed Nov 4, 2010

The Tragedy of the 9/11 Attacks

On September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the United States of America. Al-Qaeda sent 19 hijacker's on four different planes and planned to crash them into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, and the capitol building in Washington DC. They managed to completely destroy the twin towers and one side of the pentagon. One of the planes crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The terrorists killed a total of 2977 people on September 11. The passengers on flight 93, 77, and 175 were allowed to call home using the cabin airphone service and there own mobile phones. The passengers provided details that several Al-Qaeda members were aboard each plane using mace or other forms of noxious chemical sprays, such as tear gas or pepper spray was used and some passengers were stabbed. Al Qaeda’s well thought out plan affected people all around the nation.

Al-Qaeda hijacked flights American 11 and United 175 early in the morning. At 8:46 Tuesday morning, fight 11 crashed into the North Tower. At 9:03, flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. The jet fuel in the planes set the buildings on fire, trapping hundreds of people in the tops of the building. Firefighters ran into the buildings to save people. There were people jumping from the top of the buildings and pieces of the building were falling. The south tower collapsed at 9:59 after burning for 56 minutes. The north tower fell at 10:28 after burning for 102 minutes. The collapse of the towers killed 147 plane passengers and 2606 people trapped in the buildings, including firefighters and first responders.

The same day, five Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked United Flight 77, which they flew into the Pentagon building in Arlington, VA at 9:37 AM. The crash killed 125 people in the building and 59 on the plane. Lots of people saw the crash and reporters shared the news very quickly. A portion of the building was severely damaged and fires raged on for days afterwards.
The Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked a fourth flight, United 93, and intended to fly it into a target in Washington, DC. Fortunately, the terrorists were surprised by passengers who overtook the terrorists and forced them to crash the plane into the ground in a field in Shanksville Pennsylvania. The passengers on board started a fight with the hijackers. The passengers were allowed to call home using the cabin airphone service and there own mobile phones. In a inter view in 2002 they found out that it was planned for fight 93 crash into the Capitol Building from an al-Qaeda terrorist that stayed behind.

New York and the world still grieve over the loss of family members and friends that died on the fateful day. Also fear has overcome the country, because every one feels where they are is next target. Some people feel angry and violated, because they were attacked and they no longer feel safe. America will never be the same.