Timeline for September 11^th, 2001:

8:45 a.m. (all times are EDT)- A hijacked passenger jet, American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston, Massachusetts, crashes into the north tower of the WTC.

9:03 a.m. - A second hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston, crashes into the south tower of the WTC. Both buildings are burning.

9:30 a.m. - President Bush, speaking in Sarasota, Florida, at the time, says the country has suffered an “apparent terrorist attack.” 

9:40 a.m. - The FAA grounds all U.S. flights for the first time in the nation’s history.

9:43 a.m.  - American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.

10:05 a.m. – The south tower of the WTC collapses. A big cloud of dust and debris forms.

10:10 a.m.- Part of the Pentagon collapses.  United Airlines Flight 93, also hijacked, crashes into Somerset County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburg. There were 38 passengers and 7 crew members aboard.

10:24 a.m.- The FAA reports that all inbound transatlantic flights are being diverted to Canada.

10:28 a.m.- The WTC’s north tower collapses, releasing another cloud of debris and smoke.

11:18 a.m.- American Airlines announces Flight 11, a Boeing 767, flying from Boston to Los Angeles, had 81 passengers and 11 crew members aboard.  Flight 77, a Boeing 757, flying from Washington to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members aboard. (Flight 11 hit the north tower, WTC; Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.)

11:59 a.m.- It’s confirmed that United Airlines Flight 175, from Boston to Los Angeles, had crashed with 56 passengers and 9 crew. (Flight 175 hit the south tower, WTC)

1:27 p.m.- A state of emergency is declared by the city of Washington.

2:30 p.m.- The FAA announces that there will be no U.S. commercial air traffic until noon EDT Wednesday at the earliest.

4:10 p.m.- Building 7 of the WTC complex is reported on fire.

4:25 p.m.- The American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange say they will remain closed Wednesday, September 12^th.

5:20 p.m.- The 47 story Building 7 of the WTC complex collapses. Other nearby buildings in the area remain on fire.

8:30 p.m.- President Bush addresses the nation asking for prayers for the victims and their families.  He also states that the U.S. government will make no distinction between the terrorists that committed these acts and those who harbor them.

See a makeshift memorial to World Trade Center rescue workers