On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists associated
with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda, financed by
Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden, hijacked four airliners
and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the
United States.Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of
the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane
hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C.,
and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in
New York City and Washington, D.C., including more
than 400 police officers and firefighters.
A group of passengers on board the fourth hijacked
plane, United Flight 93, and flight attendants fought the
four hijackers and the plane crashed in a rural field in
Western Pennsylvania killing all 45 aboard.