3. AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK
At
9:02 a.m., the New York Fire Chief announced the evacuation of everyone in the
North Tower, and the news was already being broadcast live on all channels.
9:03 A.M
UNITED
AIRLINES FLIGHT 175
At
9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 crashed at 950 kilometers per hour and
struck between the 77th and 85th floors on the south face of the World Trade
Center's south tower. The event was broadcast live worldwide and was witnessed
by over a million people. Everyone on board perished, and hundreds in the tower
lost their lives on the spot.
Smoke
billowed from the blaze, rendering rescue operations impossible, and people
jumped from seventy floors in a desperate bid for survival. Sadly, they only
found death.
At
the same time, President Bush entered the classroom where the children were,
and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Boston headquarters suspended flights
from all airports in its territory around 9:04 a.m.
At
9:05 a.m., students at Emma E Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida,
and President Bush read the story "The Pet Goat," while White House
Chief of Staff Andrew Card quickly arrived and whispered in the President's
ear, saying,
"Sir,
a second plane has hit the second tower. America is under attack."
Bush
did not display any signs of distress, and his face appeared as if he were lost
in another world. Later, he stated that he was contemplating who could attack
the United States.
From
9:06 a.m., the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) imposed various rules on air
travel, and at 9:14 a.m., President Bush arrived in the operating room of an
adjoining classroom set up by the U.S. Secret Service and held discussions with
the Vice President, the Governor of New York, and the Director of the FBI.
Eddie
Blinger made an announcement on all United Airlines flights at 9:19 a.m.,
"Beware of entering any cockpit - two planes hit the World Trade
Center." Warnings were sent, and the message was received by United
Airlines Flight 93 at around 9:23 a.m.
Around
9:24 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed the North
American Air Defense Force (NORAD) that American Airlines Flight 77 was
suspected to have been hijacked. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
ordered the suspension of all civilian flights, regardless of destination, at
9:26 a.m.
Meanwhile,
White House counter-terrorism chief Richard Clark ordered the security level to
be elevated to DEFCON 3 at all U.S. military bases worldwide.
At
9:28 a.m., terrorists stormed the cockpit of United Airlines Flight 93 and took
control of the aircraft.
Meanwhile,
at 9:29 a.m., Bush held a press conference in front of Emma Booker College
students and teachers, saying he wanted to go to Washington soon. There he made
a brief statement,
"Today,
we've had a national tragedy, two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade
Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country,"
and
then left. He was taken to Air Force One, located at Bradenton International
Airport in Sarasota.
At
9:32 a.m., a transmission from United Airlines Flight 93 was heard on the radio
transmitter.
"Ladies
and gentlemen, here is the captain; please sit down. Keep remaining seated. We
have a bomb on board. So, sit."
Meanwhile,
a director at Reagan Airport called the White House Secret Service and reported
that a plane was approaching without communication. Around 9:35 a.m., the
Secret Service ordered the Vice President to be evacuated from the White House
immediately and taken to a secret bunker in the eastern part of the White
House.
Meanwhile,
United Airlines Flight 93 changed its course eastward in the skies over Ohio.
9:37
A.M
AMERICAN
AIRLINES FLIGHT 77
At
9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77, which had spiraled west of the Pentagon
to the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, descended 2200 feet and
crashed into the western part of the Pentagon at 853 kilometers per hour. It
claimed the lives of at least 125 people at the Pentagon, as well as everyone
else on board.
Meanwhile,
Saïd Zaraï, the terrorist controlling United Airlines Flight 93, made another
transmission at 9:39 a.m., saying: "Uh, this is the captain. I would like
you all to remain seated. We have a bomb on board and are going back to the
airport, and to have our demands met, please remain quiet."
The
Pentagon announced that an explosion had occurred, and the White House and the
Capitol building were immediately closed. Also, the U.S. skies were closed, and
no civilian aircraft were allowed to take off; all aircraft were ordered to
land at the nearest airport. All incoming flights to the United States were
diverted to Canada or Mexico.
Meanwhile,
rescue work at the twin towers was underway. CNN News Network confirmed the
plane crash at 9:53 a.m. in the Pentagon. President Bush departed from
Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota aboard Air Force One at 9:55 a.m.
At
around 9:57 a.m., passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 received information
over the phone that passengers and crew had initiated a revolt against the
terrorists, suspecting that the plane had been hijacked for a destructive
purpose.
Leo Kasun Sapumohotti
Zone Director
Zone B1
Leo District 306 A1
