the september 11 attacks were four coordinated suicide attacks upon the united states in new york city and the washington, d.c., area on september 11, 2001. on that tuesday morning, 19 terrorists from the islamist militant group al-qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. the hijackers intentionally crashed two planes, american airlines flight 11 and united airlines flight 175, into the twin towers of the world trade center in new york city; both towers collapsed within two hours. hijackers crashed american airlines flight 77 into the pentagon in arlington, virginia. the fourth jet, united airlines flight 93, crashed into a field near shanksville, pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to take control before it could reach the hijacker's intended target in washington, d.c. nearly 3,000 died in the attacks, and the 9/11 attacks have had broad and lasting consequences to military policy, politics, and foreign relations. effects have also been seen in literature, film, and popular culture.