Timeline Of Events Since Attacks
Posted: 12:04 p.m. EDT September 11, 2001
Updated: 4:00 p.m. EDT September 27, 2001
Major daily developments since the terrorist attacks:
Tuesday, Sept. 11
Knife-wielding terrorists hijack four airliners bound for California with a total of 266 passengers and crew aboard. Two ram into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. One slams into the Pentagon in Washington. The fourth crashes about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. World Trade Center's 110-story towers collapse, burying thousands of office workers and hundreds of rescuers. The plume of smoke is visible from space. Another building, the 47-story Seven World Trade Center, collapses Trading on Wall Street is called off; the Federal Aviation Administration halts all flight operations at U.S. airports, the first time in U.S. history air traffic nationwide has been halted. Federal buildings, including the White House and the Capitol, are evacuated. Elsewhere, evacuations are ordered at the tallest skyscrapers in several cities, and major tourist attractions are closed, including Walt Disney World, Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, Seattle's Space Needle and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. President Bush calls the crashes an "apparent terrorist attack on our country." From Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, he announces U.S. military is on high alert. Back at the White House, Bush addresses the nation and vows to "find those responsible and bring them to justice." Wednesday, Sept. 12
New York Mayor Rudolph Guiliani warns death toll will be in the thousands. Firefighters continue to douse flames in New York and Washington. Bush labels Tuesday's attacks "acts of war" and asks Congress to devote $20 billion to help rebuild and recover. Officials say that a car believed to belong to the hijackers was confiscated in Boston, where two of the hijacked planes took off, and that it contained an Arabic-language flight manual. Investigators also raid two Boston-area hotels believed to be used by the hijackers. Three people are detained but released. Thursday, Sept. 13
Investigators locate critical "black boxes" from two of hijacked planes. Secretary of State Colin Powell identifies Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect in Tuesday's attacks. Jetliners return to the nation's skies for the first time in two days, carrying nervous passengers who face strict new security measures. Pentagon official says the United States will launch sustained military strikes against those responsible for the attacks, as well as their support systems. Stock market officials announce trading will resume Monday, ending a four-day shutdown. The National Football League calls off all weekend games, as do major college football conferences, and major league baseball postpones all games through Sunday. Several car racing circuits also call off competition. Friday, Sept. 14
Bush declares national emergency and gives military authority to call 50,000 reservists to active duty. The president leads the nation in prayer at National Cathedral. Later, he visits Trade Center site and is cheered by search crews. Nearly 5,000 people reported missing or confirmed dead at Trade Center. Search and rescue operations continue; rain complicates efforts. The Pentagon death toll is put at 189, including 64 on plane. The Justice Department releases names of 19 alleged hijackers. Congress approves $40 billion in emergency aid to help victims and hunt down culprits. It also gives consent for the president to use force against those responsible for the attacks. Afghanistan's Taliban militia warns of "revenge" if the United States attacks for harboring terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. Searchers at Pentagon find flight data and voice recorders of American Flight 77. Near Shanksville, Pa., investigators find the cockpit voice recorder of Unite Flight 93. Federal officials reopen skies to most private planes. Saturday, Sept. 15
Bush orders U.S. troops to get ready for war and braces Americans for a long, difficult assault against terrorists. "Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction," he declares. Continental Airlines lays off 12,000 employees and cut its flight schedule by 20 percent because of an expected drop in air travel. International carriers resume flights to the United States. Articles such as knives are banned; searches of passengers and luggage are intensified. Workers toil in the muck and stink of what was the Trade Center, finding a small fraction of the thousands of bodies buried beneath tons of rubble. The passport of a suspected hijacker found near Trade Center ruins. Nasdaq, New York and American stock exchanges finish successful tests of their computer and communications systems, clearing the way for trading to resume Monday. Sunday, Sept. 16
Bush pledges "crusade" to "rid the world of evil-doers," brushes off reported Osama bin Laden denial; Vice President Dick Cheney warns that those who harbor terrorists face "the full wrath of the United States." Pakistani official says senior delegation sent to Afghanistan to deliver U.S. message: hand over Osama bin Laden or risk massive assault. Number missing at Trade Center reaches 4,957; 190 confirmed dead, 115 identified. Pentagon death toll 188; New York Fire Department promotes 168 firefighters to fill void left by nearly 300 firefighters still missing. Patriotic songs mix with gospel as Americans attend Sunday services; Pope John Paul II says he is "heartbroken," urges restraint in retaliation.
Monday, Sept. 17
Investors send stocks reeling on Wall Street's first day of trading since the attacks. The Dow loses 684.81 points, its worst-ever one-day point drop, and closes below 9,000 for the first time in more than 2 1/2 years. Nasdaq also falls sharply.
An hour before stock markets open, the Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate to try to keep the economy from plunging into a recession. It is the eighth rate cut this year.
Senior Pakistani officials travel to neighboring Afghanistan and ask the Taliban's supreme leader to hand over Osama bin Laden or risk massive retaliatory assault from the West. The supreme leader says a grand Islamic council will convene to decide.
Major league baseball resumes Monday night.
Tuesday, Sept. 18:
Law enforcement officials say four people arrested as material witnesses. FBI has detained at least 75 people for questioning and is seeking nearly 200 more.
Islamic clerics gather in Kabul to discuss extraditing suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden. Taliban leaders call on Muslims to wage holy war on America if it attacks. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says administration preparing sustained offensive against terrorists and countries that support them.
Boeing Co. announces plans to lay off as many as 30,000 commercial airplane workers by the end of next year as a result of an expected slowdown in orders caused by last week's terrorist attacks.
President Bush signs into law a $40 billion package to rebuild after last week's terrorist attacks. He also puts his signature to the congressional resolution authorizing him to use military force against those responsible.
Wednesday, Sept. 19:
150 U.S. combat aircraft head to the Persian Gulf region in a deployment termed "Operation Infinite Justice."
The airline industry continues to suffer, as American Airlines announces layoffs of 20,000 and United cuts 20,000.
Thursday, Sept. 20:
The list of people missing in the World Trade Center attacks climbs to 6,333.
Soon after the Taliban's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden without evidence that he was involved in the terrorist attacks, President Bush, in an address to the nation, asserted that the surrender of bin Laden is "not open to negotiation or discussion."
Friday, Sept. 21:
Several Arab-American men are kicked off a Northwest flight after several passengers refused to fly with them. The airline industry quickly condemns such discrimination.
President Bush names Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge to the brand-new position of "anti-terrorism czar."
The stock market finishes a terrible week, with the Dow Jones Industrials suffering their worst one-week point loss in history.
A star-packed "Tribute to Heroes" telethon is shown on all American networks, and is seen by 60 million people.
Saturday, Sept. 22:
President Bush signs the $15 billion bailout for the airline industry. The industry has announced plans to lay off about 100,000 workers.
The United Arab Emirates cuts off all diplomatic ties with the Taliban, leaving only Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as governments who recognize the fundamentalist government.
Nearly 3,000 people gather in Phoenix to remember an Indian immigrant killed in what police say was a hate crime that followed the terrorist attacks. American Muslim leaders say unprecedented support from non-Muslims has offset recent threats and harassment.
Sunday, Sept. 23:
The FBI discovers information suggesting that the terrorists were trained in the use of biological weapons, which could be released from common crop-dusters.
Monday, Sept. 24:
President Bush signs an order freezing the financial assets in the U.S. of 27 different entities, including Osama bin Laden.
The FBI says the hijacked United Air Lines jetliner that crashed in Pennsylvania did not have a bomb aboard, as was previously suspected.
Tuesday, September 25:
Saudi Arabia cuts off diplomatic ties with the Taliban, leaving only Pakistan recognizing Afghanistan's ruling government.
The families of thousands of people missing in the attack on New York's World Trade Center begin the sad task of starting the paperwork for getting death certificates for their loved ones.
Wednesday, September 26:
The United Nations says that a humanitarian crisis "of stunning proportions" is unfolding in Afghanistan.
A newly instated program to put federal marshals on commercial planes receives an overwhelming amount of willing applicants.
Copyright 2001 by NewsNet5.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
