Today we commemorate 22 years since the terrorist attacks by airplanes of September 11, 2001, which struck the heart of the United States. The history of the world would have changed, first and foremost in the civil aviation sector. And shortly thereafter with the start of the war in Afghanistan (2001-2021) by the United States, which led to the killing of the leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, in 2011. Meanwhile, today thanks to new technologies used in DNA tests, years later, the remains of the bodies of a man and a woman, who died in the attacks, were identified. The names were not made public at the request of the families.

"Twenty-two years ago 2,977 precious lives were stolen from us in deliberately evil attacks against our Nation. On National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, we gather to renew our sacred vow: Never forget. Never forget parents, children, spouses, friends and loved ones we lost that day. Never forget the heroes who stepped up to save their fellow Americans and help our communities rebuild in the hours and years that followed", the president said American Joe Biden.

September 11, 2001 is a date that shocked the entire world of air transportation and not only that, it is the darkest day for the United States. It was a Tuesday, a hot day typical of the end of summer here in Italy. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists boarded four United Airlines and American Airlines aircraft and wrote a sad page in global history.

Once the plane had been hijacked: an American Airlines B-767 (flight AA11) with 92 people on board had crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York, a 410 meter high building made up of 110 floors. To the general disbelief and terror of passers-by, television stations around the world had interrupted their normal programming to broadcast live from the "Big Apple". Shortly afterwards, under the gaze of hundreds of millions of spectators, another plane hit the South Tower: it was a United Airlines B-767 (flight UA175) with 65 people on board.

Meanwhile, another American Airlines B-757 aircraft (flight AA77), with 64 people on board, crashed into the facade of the Pentagon in Arlington, the building of the American Ministry of Defense. Finally, a fourth B-757 aircraft (flight UA93) crashed to the ground in the countryside near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, thanks to the revolt of the passengers, perhaps saving the White House to which it would have been destined. 

On the same topic, see also the article published by AVIONEWS.