On the crisp, clear morning of September 11, 2001, America endured an unprecedented assault. While images of the World Trade Center towers dominated news cycles, a critical and equally devastating strike unfolded at the very heart of the nation’s defense: The Pentagon. This article offers The Attack on the Pentagon: Chronology and Details, providing an authoritative yet human account of that horrific day, from the hijacked flight's fateful journey to the profound aftermath that forever altered the course of U.S. history.
At a Glance: The Pentagon Attack on 9/11
- Target: The Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, Arlington, Virginia.
- Aircraft: American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757.
- Hijackers: Five al-Qaeda terrorists, led by Hani Hanjour.
- Departure: 8:20 a.m. EDT from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), bound for Los Angeles.
- Hijacking: Approximately 8:51–8:54 a.m. EDT over southern Ohio.
- Impact: 9:37:46 a.m. EDT, Flight 77 crashed into the western side of The Pentagon.
- Victims: All 64 people on board (58 passengers, 6 crew, 5 hijackers) and 125 Pentagon personnel were killed, totaling 189 lives lost.
- Damage: Catastrophic structural damage to the newly renovated Wedge 1 section of the building.
- Response: Immediate military mobilization, nationwide grounding of air traffic, and a swift, determined rescue and recovery effort.
- Legacy: Fueled massive security overhauls, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the launch of the War on Terror.
The Unfolding Horror: A Nation Under Siege
September 11, 2001, began like any other Tuesday for millions across the United States. But in the skies above the East Coast, a meticulously planned act of terror was already in motion. Nineteen al-Qaeda operatives had hijacked four commercial airliners in a coordinated strike designed to inflict maximum casualties and psychological damage on the United States.
While American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were diverted toward New York City, targeting the iconic World Trade Center towers, a third hijacked plane turned its sights on the nation's capital. This was American Airlines Flight 77, and its trajectory would lead it directly to the symbol of American military might. Understanding this broader context of a multi-pronged assault is crucial for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Pentagon on 9/11.
American Airlines Flight 77: The Path to the Pentagon
The story of the Pentagon attack begins, like the others, with a routine morning flight.
A Normal Departure, an Abnormal Turn
At 8:20 a.m. EDT, American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757, departed from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Its destination was Los Angeles, a cross-country journey carrying 58 passengers, 6 crew members, and 5 hijackers. Among these hijackers was Hani Hanjour, a skilled pilot who would ultimately steer the plane into its intended target.
For approximately half an hour, Flight 77 followed its prescribed route. Passengers settled in, perhaps reading, working, or watching the clouds drift by. Unbeknownst to them, their fate had already been sealed by the men lurking among them.
The Hijacking: Silence Over Southern Ohio
Around 8:51–8:54 a.m. EDT, as the plane cruised over southern Ohio, the hijackers made their move. The details of the takeover are harrowing, pieced together from later investigations. What is known is that control of the cockpit was seized, and the plane's transponder, which communicates its identity and altitude to air traffic control, was turned off at 8:56 a.m. This sudden disappearance from radar screens immediately raised alarms, but by then, Flight 77 was off the grid and on a new, deadly course.
The hijackers likely used knives, box cutters, and threats to subdue the crew and passengers, mirroring the tactics employed on the other hijacked flights. They herded passengers to the back of the plane, a common tactic to minimize resistance and consolidate control.
The Ghost Flight's Return: Bearing Down on Washington, D.C.
After its transponder was turned off, Flight 77 became a ghost on radar, flying undetected by civilian air traffic control for a critical period. During this time, Hani Hanjour dramatically changed the plane's heading, turning it sharply back towards Washington, D.C.
A Deviated Course and Growing Alarm
Military radar systems, though initially confused by the loss of the transponder, eventually began tracking an unidentified aircraft heading east. This was Flight 77, now flying below radar coverage at times, making it difficult for responders to track.
Meanwhile, at 8:46:40 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 had already struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:03:00 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 tore into the South Tower. The realization that America was under a coordinated attack was dawning, creating a frantic scramble among air traffic controllers and military defense sectors. However, the exact location and intention of Flight 77 remained tragically unclear for too long.
The Pentagon as a Target: A Deliberate Choice
The Pentagon, located in Arlington, Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is a globally recognized symbol of American power and defense. Its sheer size, sprawling design, and strategic importance made it an obvious, high-value target for a terrorist organization like al-Qaeda, which sought to strike at the heart of the U.S. government and military.
The choice of target was not random; it was a deliberate statement, aiming to cripple not just a building, but the very infrastructure of national security.
The Pentagon's Western Facade: A Target Chosen with Purpose
The structure itself, a massive five-sided building with five concentric rings and seven floors, is a fortress designed to withstand significant impact. However, even a structure of its resilience had vulnerabilities that the hijackers exploited.
The Impact: 9:37:46 a.m. EDT
At precisely 9:37:46 a.m. EDT, American Airlines Flight 77, traveling at approximately 530 miles per hour, slammed into the western side of The Pentagon. The plane struck between the first and second floors, impacting the newly renovated Wedge 1 section of the building. This section was still largely unoccupied due to ongoing upgrades, a grim twist of fate that likely prevented an even higher casualty count.
The impact was cataclysmic. The force of the Boeing 757, loaded with thousands of gallons of jet fuel, created a gaping hole in the building's facade, causing immediate structural collapse of the outer E Ring and significant damage to the inner rings. Eyewitnesses described a massive fireball and a deafening explosion, followed by a plume of thick, black smoke billowing into the sky.
Casualties: Lives Lost in the Heart of Defense
The toll was immediate and heartbreaking. All 64 people on board Flight 77 perished instantly. Within the Pentagon, 125 personnel were killed. These were military service members, civilian employees, and contractors – men and women dedicated to national service, whose lives were abruptly and violently cut short.
The total number of victims directly related to the Pentagon attack reached 189, each a testament to the brutal efficiency of the al-Qaeda plot. The impact tore through offices, hallways, and meeting rooms, leaving behind a scene of devastation that would scar the building and its people forever.
Immediate Aftermath and Heroic Response
In the moments following the crash, chaos erupted. But amidst the confusion, instinct and training kicked in, leading to acts of extraordinary bravery and coordination.
Fire, Collapse, and Rescue Efforts
The jet fuel ignited almost immediately, creating an inferno that rapidly spread through the damaged sections of the building. Within minutes, parts of the upper floors of the E Ring collapsed, creating a dangerous and unstable environment for responders.
Pentagon personnel, many still reeling from the shock, began immediate self-evacuation and rudimentary rescue efforts. Firefighters from Arlington County and military fire departments were on the scene within minutes, battling intense flames and searching for survivors trapped in the rubble. Emergency medical services swarmed the area, establishing triage centers and treating the wounded. The response was a massive, multi-agency effort, testament to the dedication of first responders.
The Military Response: DEFCON 3
As the scope of the attacks became clearer, the U.S. military swiftly escalated its alert posture. At 10:10 a.m. EDT, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who was in his office at the Pentagon at the time of the attack and personally assisted wounded, placed the U.S. military at DEFCON 3. This was the highest alert level since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, indicating a significant readiness for military action and underscoring the gravity of the perceived threat.
Fighter jets were scrambled from various bases, including F-15s from Otis Air National Guard Base, initially to intercept Flight 11, then later to patrol the skies over Washington D.C. and New York City. The challenge was that the hijacked planes were flying without transponders, making them difficult to distinguish from friendly air traffic in a rapidly evolving, unprecedented crisis.
The Larger Picture: Synchronized Strikes on American Soil
The attack on the Pentagon was not an isolated incident but one part of a chillingly coordinated plan. Its timing, just over an hour after the first WTC tower impact and roughly 30 minutes after the second, amplified the sense of a nation under a sprawling, existential threat.
Connecting the Dots: A Day of Terror
- 8:46:40 a.m. EDT: Flight 11 strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
- 9:03:00 a.m. EDT: Flight 175 strikes the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
- 9:37:46 a.m. EDT: Flight 77 strikes The Pentagon.
- 10:03:11 a.m. EDT: United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth hijacked plane, crashes in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers heroically fought back against the hijackers, preventing it from reaching its likely intended target in Washington, D.C.
This synchronized assault on America's financial, military, and governmental symbols demonstrated a new level of terrorist sophistication and resolve. The rapid succession of impacts created a widespread panic and a profound sense of vulnerability across the nation.
Government Reacts: From Confusion to Coordinated Action
The initial moments of the attacks were marked by confusion, but as the events unfolded, a remarkable and unprecedented government response began to coalesce.
President Bush's Call to Action
President George W. Bush was at an elementary school in Florida when the first plane hit the WTC. By the time the second plane struck at 9:03 a.m., he famously declared, "America is under attack." His rapid evacuation and the subsequent decisions made by his administration defined the immediate governmental reaction.
At 9:42 a.m. EDT, in an unprecedented move, Ben Sliney, a senior FAA traffic manager, issued the order for SCATANA, grounding all civilian air traffic over the United States. This was the first unplanned, peacetime nationwide airspace shutdown in U.S. history, an extraordinary measure that brought thousands of planes safely to ground, preventing further potential hijackings.
By 10:20 a.m. EDT, President Bush authorized a shootdown of aircraft if necessary, a stark and somber directive, though all hijacked planes had already crashed by this point. The swiftness of these decisions highlighted the unprecedented nature of the threat and the determination to protect American lives.
An Evening of Resolve
That evening, at 8:30 p.m. EDT, President Bush addressed a stunned nation, identifying the attacks as acts of terrorism perpetrated by Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. He vowed no distinction between terrorists and those who harbor them, setting the stage for a global War on Terror that would dominate foreign policy for decades. Just an hour later, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, he met with his National Security Council, where evidence confirming al-Qaeda's responsibility was presented, solidifying the path forward.
Rebuilding and Resilience: The Pentagon's Recovery
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the focus shifted from rescue to recovery and, remarkably, to rebuilding.
The Phoenix Project: A Symbol of Determination
Despite the catastrophic damage, the Pentagon leadership made a resolute decision: to repair and rebuild the damaged sections faster than anyone thought possible. The "Phoenix Project" aimed to have the impacted area reoccupied within one year. This ambitious goal was not just about concrete and steel; it was a powerful statement of resilience, a refusal to let the terrorists achieve their objective of crippling the nation's defense headquarters.
Teams worked around the clock, salvaging what could be saved, demolishing unstable sections, and reconstructing the damaged façade. Remarkably, the first tenants moved back into the rebuilt section by August 2002, just shy of the one-year anniversary. This rapid reconstruction became a powerful symbol of American defiance and determination.
Honoring the Fallen: The Pentagon Memorial
To ensure that the lives lost would never be forgotten, the Pentagon Memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2008. Situated on the grounds directly adjacent to the crash site, the memorial features 184 cantilevered benches, one for each victim, arranged by age, from 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg to 71-year-old John Yamnicky. Each bench is engraved with a victim's name, and flowing water creates a peaceful, reflective space. The memorial serves as a permanent tribute to the innocents lost and the solemn promise to remember the 9/11 victims' memorials are crucial reminders.
Lasting Legacy: How 9/11 Reshaped America's Security Landscape
The attacks of 9/11, including the devastating strike on the Pentagon, fundamentally reshaped U.S. national security policy, intelligence operations, and even daily life.
Sweeping Security Reforms
Perhaps the most immediate and visible change occurred in air travel. The vulnerabilities exploited by the hijackers led to radical changes to air travel security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created, federalizing airport security screeners. Enhanced screening procedures became standard, including more rigorous baggage checks, stricter carry-on rules, and later, full-body scanners. Cockpit doors were reinforced, and flight crew training for emergencies was intensified. These measures, while sometimes inconvenient, aimed to prevent a similar attack from ever occurring again.
Intelligence and Law Enforcement Overhaul
The attacks exposed critical gaps in intelligence sharing between various agencies. In response, a massive reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community was undertaken, leading to the creation of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) role to oversee and coordinate intelligence efforts. Furthermore, the need for enhanced domestic security led to the formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002, consolidating 22 disparate federal agencies under one umbrella to protect the nation from a wide range of threats.
The Patriot Act and Civil Liberties
In the wake of the attacks, Congress quickly passed the USA Patriot Act, a controversial piece of legislation designed to give law enforcement and intelligence agencies broader powers to investigate and prevent terrorism. While proponents argued it was essential for national security, critics raised concerns about the scope and impact of the Patriot Act on civil liberties, sparking ongoing debates about the balance between security and privacy.
The War on Terror and Global Engagement
Beyond domestic policy, 9/11 directly triggered the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime that harbored them. This was followed by the 2003 invasion of Iraq, based on contested intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism. These military interventions and the broader "War on Terror" reshaped global geopolitics, leading to sustained military engagements and counter-terrorism efforts around the world. Understanding the origins and motivations of al-Qaeda became paramount in this new global landscape.
Addressing Common Questions About the Pentagon Attack
The events of 9/11 are etched into national memory, yet questions and even misconceptions persist. Here, we address some common inquiries about the Pentagon attack specifically.
Was it truly a plane that hit the Pentagon?
Yes, unequivocally. Extensive evidence, including eyewitness accounts, flight recorder data, radar data, physical debris from the plane (including parts of the fuselage, landing gear, and the black boxes), damage patterns to the building consistent with a large aircraft impact, and forensic analysis of victims' remains, confirm that American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. Conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise have been thoroughly debunked by numerous official investigations.
Why was the Pentagon targeted specifically?
The Pentagon was targeted as the military headquarters of the United States. Al-Qaeda sought to strike at symbols of American power and sow chaos. Hitting the Pentagon was a direct assault on the nation's defense capabilities and its global standing, intended to inflict both physical damage and psychological terror on the U.S. military and government.
How quickly did authorities respond to the attack?
Despite the initial confusion from a multi-pronged, unprecedented attack, the response to the Pentagon impact was remarkably swift. Arlington County Fire Department units and military fire and rescue teams were on the scene within minutes, initiating firefighting and rescue operations. Medical personnel and law enforcement also arrived quickly, coordinating efforts with Pentagon staff. The integrated nature of emergency services in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, combined with the Pentagon's own robust emergency protocols, facilitated a rapid, albeit challenging, response.
How many people died in the Pentagon attack?
The attack on the Pentagon killed 189 people. This total includes all 59 passengers and 6 crew members on American Airlines Flight 77, the 5 hijackers on board, and 125 personnel working inside the Pentagon.
Moving Forward: Remembering 9/11 and Its Enduring Lessons
The attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, stands as a stark reminder of our vulnerability but also of our capacity for resilience, courage, and collective action. The detailed chronology of that day reveals the meticulous planning of the perpetrators and the immense human cost.
As a society, we bear the responsibility to remember those who were lost, to honor the heroes who emerged, and to continue learning from the events that transpired. The lessons of 9/11 resonate today, shaping how we approach national security, intelligence, and our role in a complex global landscape. Understanding these details isn't just about historical knowledge; it's about fostering vigilance, promoting unity, and upholding the values that were attacked that day. The memory of 9/11 calls us to remain informed, engaged, and ever-committed to safeguarding the future.