8:00 AM
American Airlines Flight 11 with 92 people on board takes off from Boston's Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles.
8:14 AM
United Airlines Flight 175 with 65 people on board takes off from Boston's Logan airport bound for Los Angeles.
8:21 AM
American Airlines Flight 77 with 64 people on board takes off from Washington Dulles International Airport bound for Los Angeles.
8:40 AM
The Federal Aviation Administration notifies North American Aerospace Defense Command's Northeast Air Defense Sector about suspected hijacking of American Flight 11.
8:41 AM
United Air Lines Flight 93 with 44 people on board takes off from Newark International Airport bound for San Francisco.
8:43 AM
The FAA notifies NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector about suspected hijacking of United Flight 175.
8:48 AM
At the height of New York's morning rush hour American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM
News cameras trained on the burning tower capture the horrifying view of another passenger jet, United Airlines Flight 175, crashing into the south tower of the Trade Center causing a devastating explosion. It becomes clear that it was not an accident.
9:10 AM
In Florida President Geoarge W. Bush is reading to children in a classroom when his chief of staff, Andrew Card, whispers the news into his ear: "A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack."
9:20 AM
The FBI announces that it is investigating reports of several planes being hijacked.
9:29 AM
Rescue workers and firefighters rush to the foot of the World Trade Center as the upper floors blaze. On an ordinary day, up to 50,000 people would be working in the Trade Center. Eyewitnesses see people jumping from the towers
9:30 AM
President Bush makes an emergency statement: "We have had a national tragedy. Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country."
9:32 AM
Secret Service agents burst into Vice President Dick Cheney's West Wing office. "Sir," one says, "we have to leave immediately." Radar shows an airplane heading toward the White House. Other Secret Service agents hustle National Security Advisor Condelezza Rice and several other senior White House officials included in an emergency contingency plan into the bunker with the vice president.
9:40 AM
American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon in Washington. One side of the building bursts into flames and a section collapses.
Pentagon officials order up the airborne command post, used only in national emergencies, and order combat air patrols in the Washington area and a fighter escort for Air Force One. They also order AWACs radar and surveillance planes airborne along both the East and West Coasts, fearing another round of attacks.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld raises the United States military worldwide to DefCon 3, the highest level since the Arab-Israeli war in 1973.
9:45 AM
FAA orders all aircraft to land at nearest airport as soon as practical. More than 4,500 aircraft in air at the time. This is the first time in U.S. history that nationwide air traffic is suspended.
9:48 AM
Secret Service agents order those in the White House and the West Wing Offices to evacuate, first telling staffers there to file out in an orderly way, then yelling for them to run as fast as they can. Some staffers are advised to remove the White House identification from around their necks so they can't be singled out by possible snipers.
9:50 AM
All airports across the US are shut down and all commercial flights grounded.
9:58 AM
An emergency despatcher in Pennsylvania receives a call from a passenger on United Flight 93 who says "We are being hijacked, we are being hijacked!" At least four passengers made mobile phone calls to relatives and the emergency services. One of those was sales manager Jeremy Glick who told his wife that he and some others had taken a secret vote and had decided to tackle the hijackers. Another passenger, Thomas Burnett told his wife: "I know we're all going to die... There's three of us who are going to do something about it." Account manager Todd Beamer, "Are you ready guys? Let's roll!"
10:03 AM
United Airlines Flight 93 crashes 80 miles (128 km) south east of Pittsburgh into rural Somerset county.
10:05 AM
The south tower of the World Trade Center suddenly collapses sending a massive pall of smoke across Manhattan. Many police, rescue workers, and firefighters are crushed, as well all those who could not get out of the tower fast enough.
10:29 AM
The north tower of the World Trade Center collapses, adding to the devastation and loss of life. The southern part of Manhattan Island becomes covered in a thick layer of debris and dust
12:39 PM
President Bush makes a second statement, in which he vows to hunt down and punish those responsible.
1:44 PM
The Pentagon deployes five battleships and two aircraft carriers along the east coast of the US to provide upgraded air defense for the New York and Washington areas.
5:20 PM
World Trade Center Number 7, a 47 story building adjacent to the ruins of the twin towers, collapses.
8:30 PM
President Bush addresses the nation on TV, saying, "Today our fellow citizens, our freedom, our way of life came under attack" and hints at a strong US response against the "terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them".
Let us now observe a moment of silence to remember those who were killed by the 9/11 terrorists and for those who gave their lives attempting to rescue them.