September ll Attacks: coordinated terrorist strike on the united States in 2001 that killed more than 3,000 people and shook the nation to its core On the sunny morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists, working in teams of 4 or 5, hijacked four commercial jetliners and turned them toward targets chosen for destruction. Two of the planes, loaded with fuel and passengers, were flown at full speed into the twin towers of the world trade center in the financial district of New York City. The buildings burst into flame and then collapsed, killing thousands. A third terrorist crew smashed their lane into the pentagon, headquarters of the u.s. military in Arlington, Virginia. The hijackers of the fourth airliner apparently intended to hit another target in the washington, D. C, area, but passengers on the plane realized what was happening and fought back This airplane crashed in a field in rural PennsylvaniaSeptember 11 Attacks: coordinated terrorist strike on the United States in 2001 that killed more than 3,000 people and shook the nation to its core. On the sunny morning of September 11,2001, 19 terrorists, working in teams of 4 or 5, hijacked four commercial jetliners and turned them toward targets chosen for destruction. Two of the planes, loaded with fuel and passengers, were flown at full speed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in the financial district of New York City. The buildings burst into flame and then collapsed, killing thousands. A third terrorist crew smashed their plane into the Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. military in Arlington, Virginia. The hijackers of the fourth airliner apparently intended to hit another target in the Washington, D.C., area, but passengers on the plane realized what was happening and fought back. This airplane crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania