September 11th, 2001, is a significant date in history, primarily because of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in the United States orchestrated by the extremist group al-Qaeda. On that day, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two of these planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the buildings to collapse. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, located in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was headed for a target in Washington, D.C., but passengers attempted to regain control, leading to the plane crashing in a field in Pennsylvania.
The attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and caused extensive destruction. In the aftermath, the U.S. government initiated a global "War on Terror," leading to military operations in Afghanistan aimed at dismantling al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power. September 11th has since become a day of remembrance, known as Patriots' Day in some areas, and has had a profound impact on U.S. and global politics, security policies, and international relations. The event also reshaped public perceptions of terrorism and led to significant changes in domestic security measures.