11 September 2001 marked the most deadliest terror attack in US history, taking the lives of 2,977 people.
9/11 witness interrupted by second attack on-air
The whole world stood still when 19 terrorists hijacked four aircrafts, which saw American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crash into the north and south towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City.
Almost simultaneously, American Airlines Flight 77 - initially heading for the White House - crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
Meanwhile, United Airlines Flight 93 was flying towards the capital before it crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
Not a single person from all four flights survived.
Audio recordings from the flights have since emerged from that fateful day, providing people with a terrifying insight into what it was like for those onboard the hijacked planes.
11 September 2001 marked the deadliest terror attack in US history (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
One of the recordings picked up was that from Todd Beamer, an account manager for the Oracle Corporation who lived in Cranbury, New Jersey.
He was aboard United Airlines Flight 93, the plane that would go on to crash in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The account manager tried to place a credit card call through an in-flight telephone, but was instead routed to a customer-service representative, before being connected to a supervisor named Lisa Jefferson.
He told her that a passenger had been killed by a hijacker, before being told by the flight attendant that the pilot and co-pilot had been forced out of the cockpit and were possibly wounded.
Todd Beamer tried his best to get help while onboard the doomed flight (9/11 Memorial and Museum)
Jefferson then heard Beamer's panic when the plane suddenly turned in a southeasterly direction, later telling her that that some of the plane's passengers planned to 'jump on' the hijackers.
The supervisor said that Beamer's last audible words were: "Are you guys ready? Let's roll."
His line became so iconic that it would later become the war cry for American soldiers that would fight Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in the years following.
It was widely believed that passengers onboard purposely crashed the airliner to save the lives of those on the ground, however the 9/11 Commission's findings - which is based on the 'black box' cockpit recordings - revealed that the passengers of Flight 93 did not intentionally do this.
One of the recordings picked up was that from Todd Beamer, an account manager for the Oracle Corporation who lived in Cranbury, New Jersey.
He was aboard United Airlines Flight 93, the plane that would go on to crash in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The account manager tried to place a credit card call through an in-flight telephone, but was instead routed to a customer-service representative, before being connected to a supervisor named Lisa Jefferson.
He told her that a passenger had been killed by a hijacker, before being told by the flight attendant that the pilot and co-pilot had been forced out of the cockpit and were possibly wounded.
Todd Beamer tried his best to get help while onboard the doomed flight (9/11 Memorial and Museum)Jefferson then heard Beamer's panic when the plane suddenly turned in a southeasterly direction, later telling her that that some of the plane's passengers planned to 'jump on' the hijackers.
The supervisor said that Beamer's last audible words were: "Are you guys ready? Let's roll."
His line became so iconic that it would later become the war cry for American soldiers that would fight Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in the years following.
It was widely believed that passengers onboard purposely crashed the airliner to save the lives of those on the ground, however the 9/11 Commission's findings - which is based on the 'black box' cockpit recordings - revealed that the passengers of Flight 93 did not intentionally do this.
It is believed the passengers of United Airlines flight 93 burst into the cockpit to take control of the plane (BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)
The passengers actually burst into the cockpit and fought with the terrorists over control of the plane.
Unfortunately, the plane crashed into a field and killed everyone onboard, but nobody on the ground.
A post office in Cranbury, New Jersey, was named after Beamer, as well as the Todd Beamer high school in Federal Way, Washington. Wheaton College also named a building after the hero, calling it the Todd M. Beamer Student Center.
A national hero, Beamer is often credited with helping to save the US capital from any further damage, though the efforts of everyone on board Flight 93 have been commended.Featured Image Credit: 9/11 Memorial and Museum / Family Handout
Published 20:36 25 Jan 2024 GMT
Harrowing video shows plane passengers' reactions after finding out about 9/11 in the air
Those who were in the air while 9/11 happened were told about the disaster
Harrowing footage shows the reaction plane passengers in the US had to being informed of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
It's a day in history where pretty much everyone who lived through it knows where they were, and for some, they were on board a flight when they heard the news that terrorists were hijacking planes.
Footage of the moment a passenger plane's pilot informs those on board of the terrorist attacks captures their shocked and harrowed reactions.
There was no panic from the passengers on board the plane as they were told about the 9/11 attacks, just responses of shock and sorrow.
There were a total of 2,977 victims of the terrorist attacks, where four aircraft were hijacked and three of them crashed into high-profile targets in the US.
"At least three aircraft have been hijacked in the United States, two of which were hijacked in the New York area," a member of staff told the passengers.
Frank Pizzo/CTTV
"They were driven into the World Trade Center towers, they destroyed both towers, both towers have completely collapsed according to the reports that we have.
"In addition to that another aircraft was hijacked, we believe this was a US hijacked airplane and that was blown up and destroyed out over the ocean.
"Fourth item here, the Pentagon was attacked with a helicopter loaded with explosives and there's no damages estimates right now.
"Also we've had other reports of the White House being attacked, they're reporting now that there's smoke coming out of the White House, no further details."
Throughout the grim announcement, the plane's passengers could only utter a handful of words in shock, with a few saying 'oh my god' and others bowing their heads solemnly.
BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images
The footage is evidence of the chaos and confusion that followed the 9/11 attacks, as the aircraft which struck the Pentagon was a Boeing 757 passenger plane and not a helicopter, killing 59 victims on board the plane, all five hijackers and a further 125 people in the Pentagon.
The plane, which the pilot said had been destroyed over the ocean, was United Airlines 93, a passenger flight which the hijackers intended to crash into a target in Washington D.C, either the White House or the Capitol Building.
However, it crashed in Pennsylvania with 40 victims and all four hijackers on board dead after passengers on the plane fought the hijackers and attempted to force their way into the cockpit.
The White House was not struck during the 9/11 attacks, and George W Bush was informed of the attacks during a visit to Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Florida.Featured Image Credit: Frank Pizzo/CTTV
Published 21:04 11 Sep 2023 GMT+1
Rare 9/11 footage capturing new angle emerged 20 years after horrific attacks
The footage was shared over 20 years after the Twin Towers were attacked on 9/11
Warning: Contains Distressing Footage
It's been 22 years since two planes crashed into World Trade Center.
Almost 3,000 people died that day, with many more lives lost and affected in its aftermath.
In the time that's passed, we've seen countless harrowing images and videos, which showed the devastation caused by the 11th September attack.
But last year, a piece of footage that had never seen the light of day was finally released.
Uploaded to YouTube on 24 February 2022, the nine-minute clip shows the horrifying moment the second hijacked plane - United Airlines flight 175 - flew into the South Tower, less than 20 minutes after American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower.
YouTube/Kevin Westley
The person filming, Kevin Westley, appears to have been standing with a large group by the water's edge at the time.
There are audible gasps as the second plane appears in the sky and heads straight towards the Twin Towers.
When the plane crashes into the second tower, a huge fireball erupts, with the crowd heard screaming and someone saying: "Did you see that? He did it on purpose!"
Since the video was uploaded, it has been viewed millions of times and sparked a visceral reaction with those who've seen it.
"I’ve never seen this. Hopefully this video won’t get taken off. The fact you captured this happening is so surreal," one person commented.
"This video is incredible. It doesn't zoom in on the 2nd plane. It's like you're there," another said.
While someone else pointed out: "It’s so bizarre to see a new angle of something traumatic and disastrous that you’ve seen so many times before so many years later."
You can watch the clip here:
Play
Others, however, were left with more questions than answers, some suspicious as to why the uploader had waited so long to release the footage.
One user asked: "Why did it take Kevin over 20 years to upload the best quality video of the 9-11 attacks?"
Seemingly responding to some of the questions, Mr Westley explained in the clip's caption that he had actually posted it a long time ago.
"I posted this video in the 2000's but accidentally left it private for until now," he wrote.
Concluding his post, he said: "Let us Pray. God we pray for those some 3000 that died on these fields as their life blood flowed out.
"Also we pray for those 100,000 who spilled that life blood and left a piece of their soul on this battlefield. Amen."Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Kevin Westley
Published 19:57 29 Jul 2024 GMT+1
Man's 9/11 footage from 'unseen angle' uploaded after 23 years has been upscaled to 4k
The chilling footage was recently uploaded to YouTube
Warning: Article contains content some readers may find distressing
It's been nearly 23 years since the devastating events of the September 11 changed the events of modern history forever.
A series of coordinated terrorist attacks across the United States, 9/11 took the lives of nearly 3,000 people, with an estimated between 6,000 and 25,000 extra people being injured on that fateful day.
The footage was also broadcasted by news outlets around the world, with the majority of people alive remembering where they were the moment the two United Airlines planes crashed into the North and South Towers of New York City's World Trade Centre.
The passengers actually burst into the cockpit and fought with the terrorists over control of the plane.
Unfortunately, the plane crashed into a field and killed everyone onboard, but nobody on the ground.
A post office in Cranbury, New Jersey, was named after Beamer, as well as the Todd Beamer high school in Federal Way, Washington. Wheaton College also named a building after the hero, calling it the Todd M. Beamer Student Center.
A national hero, Beamer is often credited with helping to save the US capital from any further damage, though the efforts of everyone on board Flight 93 have been commended.Featured Image Credit: 9/11 Memorial and Museum / Family Handout
Published 20:36 25 Jan 2024 GMT
Harrowing video shows plane passengers' reactions after finding out about 9/11 in the air
Those who were in the air while 9/11 happened were told about the disaster
Harrowing footage shows the reaction plane passengers in the US had to being informed of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
It's a day in history where pretty much everyone who lived through it knows where they were, and for some, they were on board a flight when they heard the news that terrorists were hijacking planes.
Footage of the moment a passenger plane's pilot informs those on board of the terrorist attacks captures their shocked and harrowed reactions.
There was no panic from the passengers on board the plane as they were told about the 9/11 attacks, just responses of shock and sorrow.
There were a total of 2,977 victims of the terrorist attacks, where four aircraft were hijacked and three of them crashed into high-profile targets in the US.
"At least three aircraft have been hijacked in the United States, two of which were hijacked in the New York area," a member of staff told the passengers.
Frank Pizzo/CTTV"They were driven into the World Trade Center towers, they destroyed both towers, both towers have completely collapsed according to the reports that we have.
"In addition to that another aircraft was hijacked, we believe this was a US hijacked airplane and that was blown up and destroyed out over the ocean.
"Fourth item here, the Pentagon was attacked with a helicopter loaded with explosives and there's no damages estimates right now.
"Also we've had other reports of the White House being attacked, they're reporting now that there's smoke coming out of the White House, no further details."
Throughout the grim announcement, the plane's passengers could only utter a handful of words in shock, with a few saying 'oh my god' and others bowing their heads solemnly.
BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty ImagesThe footage is evidence of the chaos and confusion that followed the 9/11 attacks, as the aircraft which struck the Pentagon was a Boeing 757 passenger plane and not a helicopter, killing 59 victims on board the plane, all five hijackers and a further 125 people in the Pentagon.
The plane, which the pilot said had been destroyed over the ocean, was United Airlines 93, a passenger flight which the hijackers intended to crash into a target in Washington D.C, either the White House or the Capitol Building.
However, it crashed in Pennsylvania with 40 victims and all four hijackers on board dead after passengers on the plane fought the hijackers and attempted to force their way into the cockpit.
The White House was not struck during the 9/11 attacks, and George W Bush was informed of the attacks during a visit to Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Florida.Featured Image Credit: Frank Pizzo/CTTV
Published 21:04 11 Sep 2023 GMT+1
Rare 9/11 footage capturing new angle emerged 20 years after horrific attacks
The footage was shared over 20 years after the Twin Towers were attacked on 9/11
Warning: Contains Distressing Footage
It's been 22 years since two planes crashed into World Trade Center.
Almost 3,000 people died that day, with many more lives lost and affected in its aftermath.
In the time that's passed, we've seen countless harrowing images and videos, which showed the devastation caused by the 11th September attack.
But last year, a piece of footage that had never seen the light of day was finally released.
Uploaded to YouTube on 24 February 2022, the nine-minute clip shows the horrifying moment the second hijacked plane - United Airlines flight 175 - flew into the South Tower, less than 20 minutes after American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower.
YouTube/Kevin WestleyThe person filming, Kevin Westley, appears to have been standing with a large group by the water's edge at the time.
There are audible gasps as the second plane appears in the sky and heads straight towards the Twin Towers.
When the plane crashes into the second tower, a huge fireball erupts, with the crowd heard screaming and someone saying: "Did you see that? He did it on purpose!"
Since the video was uploaded, it has been viewed millions of times and sparked a visceral reaction with those who've seen it.
"I’ve never seen this. Hopefully this video won’t get taken off. The fact you captured this happening is so surreal," one person commented.
"This video is incredible. It doesn't zoom in on the 2nd plane. It's like you're there," another said.
While someone else pointed out: "It’s so bizarre to see a new angle of something traumatic and disastrous that you’ve seen so many times before so many years later."
You can watch the clip here:
Play
Others, however, were left with more questions than answers, some suspicious as to why the uploader had waited so long to release the footage.
One user asked: "Why did it take Kevin over 20 years to upload the best quality video of the 9-11 attacks?"
Seemingly responding to some of the questions, Mr Westley explained in the clip's caption that he had actually posted it a long time ago.
"I posted this video in the 2000's but accidentally left it private for until now," he wrote.
Concluding his post, he said: "Let us Pray. God we pray for those some 3000 that died on these fields as their life blood flowed out.
"Also we pray for those 100,000 who spilled that life blood and left a piece of their soul on this battlefield. Amen."Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Kevin Westley
Published 19:57 29 Jul 2024 GMT+1
Man's 9/11 footage from 'unseen angle' uploaded after 23 years has been upscaled to 4k
The chilling footage was recently uploaded to YouTube
Warning: Article contains content some readers may find distressing
It's been nearly 23 years since the devastating events of the September 11 changed the events of modern history forever.
A series of coordinated terrorist attacks across the United States, 9/11 took the lives of nearly 3,000 people, with an estimated between 6,000 and 25,000 extra people being injured on that fateful day.
The footage was also broadcasted by news outlets around the world, with the majority of people alive remembering where they were the moment the two United Airlines planes crashed into the North and South Towers of New York City's World Trade Centre.
The 9/11 attacks changed the course of modern history. (HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite the attacks being one of the most recognisable events of the past 25 years, there is still plenty of more from the day we haven't seen - with one man recently uploading footage he captured on the day to YouTube.
Uploaded by user Kei Sugimoto last week (23 July), the footage was taken from 'the roof of 64 St Marks Place in NYC' with a on a Sony VX2000 with teleconverter and offers us a completely different perspective of the tragedy.
Sugimoto wrote that he had decided to share the footage now for 'historical archival purposes' only after recently coming across the recordings in his 'closet'.
He has uploaded the full hour-long footage he recorded to YouTube, as well as two smaller clips showing the moment both of the towers collapsed (both in original quality and upscaled to 4k definition). Check out the chilling footage below:
Play
The footage has since gone viral following Sugimoto's decision to upload it, with several Redditors sharing their reactions to seeing the incident from a whole new angle.
"It’s crazy that we’re almost 23 years out and still getting new footage," one person wrote, while another added: "Makes me wonder how much history is being stored in people’s attics or basements waiting to be unearthed."
Sugimoto also addressed a serious of questions from curious viewers, explaining that he'd woken up on the day to discover several people on the streets 'staring south' before realising the North Tower was burning.
After seeing a plane hit the second tower, he went to grab his recording equipment to document the situation and later attempting to turn the footage over to authorities, only to turned away amid the chaos of the day.
Sugimoto's footage shares the tragedy from a whole new angle. (YouTube/ @Kei Sugimoto)
Over 22 years later, viewers were grateful that Sugimoto chose to share the footage, with one person writing: "Thank you for uploading this film, it's important for us to see, we really appreciate it."
The video also prompted others to share their recollections of the day, with several commenters remembering exactly where they were when the tragedy occurred.
"Looking back on this 23 years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday," a second person commented. "Shocking.Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Kei Sugimoto
Updated 11:21 27 Jan 2024 GMTPublished 11:19 27 Jan 2024 GMT
Tragic final words of young pilot who ignored air traffic controller’s instructions and crashed plane
The young pilot tragically died after stealing a plane from a flight school in Texas.
A young pilot's last words have been revealed before he crashed and died after stealing a plane from a Texas flight school.
The 23-year-old from North Carolina has been identified as Logan Timothy James, who stole a plane from ATP Flight School at Addison Airport, Texas on Wednesday at 7pm.
Logan had been training at the flight school since the summer, and had dreams of becoming a commercial pilot.
Logantjames/Instagram
It has since been stated by the Texas Department of Public Safety that he was allowed to use the Cessna 172 Skyhawk to perform a practice flight manoeuvre, before informing the air traffic controller that he was heading off course.
Authorities say that Logan flew east before heading north to the border of Texas and Oklahoma, crashing into a field near the town of Telephone, Texas.
Logan, who was the only person onboard the plane, was pronounced dead as the scene. It is not clear if he declared an emergency before he crashed.
The reasons behind him flying away and whether the plane was stolen or not are also unclear.
The young pilot's last words were caught on the radio, with the audio being posted by VasAviation.
"I'm climbing up through a few clouds and then just gonna head outside of everything," he began to say.
"And about right now you'll probably realise that I'm not gonna listen to ya'll's instructions and I'm just heading to East Texas.
"I'm going to pull the comm 1 circuit breaker and comm 2 circuit break soon as I unkey the mic," he then said before removing comms from his airplane, being unreachable for air traffic control.
The air traffic controller replied with 'Say again,' and tried to get in touch with James for the next 10 minutes.
LinkedIn
The Federal Aviation Administration database showed that the 23-year-old was issued a private pilot certification on December 24.
James' Father has since told media that he had graduated from The University of Texas in Dallas, before describing him as a 'wonderful son, with a gentle and loving spirit'.
ATP Flight School confirmed that the crash happened 'in a remote area', with there being 'no injuries to anyone on the ground'.
They also released a statement saying: "Our thought and prayers are with the pilot's family, loved ones, friends and colleagues,"
The school is currently working with local and federal authorities such as the Addison Police Department, National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the incident.
Despite the attacks being one of the most recognisable events of the past 25 years, there is still plenty of more from the day we haven't seen - with one man recently uploading footage he captured on the day to YouTube.
Uploaded by user Kei Sugimoto last week (23 July), the footage was taken from 'the roof of 64 St Marks Place in NYC' with a on a Sony VX2000 with teleconverter and offers us a completely different perspective of the tragedy.
Sugimoto wrote that he had decided to share the footage now for 'historical archival purposes' only after recently coming across the recordings in his 'closet'.
He has uploaded the full hour-long footage he recorded to YouTube, as well as two smaller clips showing the moment both of the towers collapsed (both in original quality and upscaled to 4k definition). Check out the chilling footage below:
Play
The footage has since gone viral following Sugimoto's decision to upload it, with several Redditors sharing their reactions to seeing the incident from a whole new angle.
"It’s crazy that we’re almost 23 years out and still getting new footage," one person wrote, while another added: "Makes me wonder how much history is being stored in people’s attics or basements waiting to be unearthed."
Sugimoto also addressed a serious of questions from curious viewers, explaining that he'd woken up on the day to discover several people on the streets 'staring south' before realising the North Tower was burning.
After seeing a plane hit the second tower, he went to grab his recording equipment to document the situation and later attempting to turn the footage over to authorities, only to turned away amid the chaos of the day.
Sugimoto's footage shares the tragedy from a whole new angle. (YouTube/ @Kei Sugimoto)Over 22 years later, viewers were grateful that Sugimoto chose to share the footage, with one person writing: "Thank you for uploading this film, it's important for us to see, we really appreciate it."
The video also prompted others to share their recollections of the day, with several commenters remembering exactly where they were when the tragedy occurred.
"Looking back on this 23 years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday," a second person commented. "Shocking.Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Kei Sugimoto
Updated 11:21 27 Jan 2024 GMTPublished 11:19 27 Jan 2024 GMT
Tragic final words of young pilot who ignored air traffic controller’s instructions and crashed plane
The young pilot tragically died after stealing a plane from a flight school in Texas.
A young pilot's last words have been revealed before he crashed and died after stealing a plane from a Texas flight school.
The 23-year-old from North Carolina has been identified as Logan Timothy James, who stole a plane from ATP Flight School at Addison Airport, Texas on Wednesday at 7pm.
Logan had been training at the flight school since the summer, and had dreams of becoming a commercial pilot.
Logantjames/InstagramIt has since been stated by the Texas Department of Public Safety that he was allowed to use the Cessna 172 Skyhawk to perform a practice flight manoeuvre, before informing the air traffic controller that he was heading off course.
Authorities say that Logan flew east before heading north to the border of Texas and Oklahoma, crashing into a field near the town of Telephone, Texas.
Logan, who was the only person onboard the plane, was pronounced dead as the scene. It is not clear if he declared an emergency before he crashed.
The reasons behind him flying away and whether the plane was stolen or not are also unclear.
The young pilot's last words were caught on the radio, with the audio being posted by VasAviation.
"I'm climbing up through a few clouds and then just gonna head outside of everything," he began to say.
"And about right now you'll probably realise that I'm not gonna listen to ya'll's instructions and I'm just heading to East Texas.
"I'm going to pull the comm 1 circuit breaker and comm 2 circuit break soon as I unkey the mic," he then said before removing comms from his airplane, being unreachable for air traffic control.
The air traffic controller replied with 'Say again,' and tried to get in touch with James for the next 10 minutes.
LinkedInThe Federal Aviation Administration database showed that the 23-year-old was issued a private pilot certification on December 24.
James' Father has since told media that he had graduated from The University of Texas in Dallas, before describing him as a 'wonderful son, with a gentle and loving spirit'.
ATP Flight School confirmed that the crash happened 'in a remote area', with there being 'no injuries to anyone on the ground'.
They also released a statement saying: "Our thought and prayers are with the pilot's family, loved ones, friends and colleagues,"
The school is currently working with local and federal authorities such as the Addison Police Department, National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the incident.
