Twenty-three years have passed since the 9/11 terror attacks on September 11, 2001, which shocked and terrified not only the United States but also the entire world. 9/11 is remembered as a tragedy that no one could have predicted at the time. In this History section, Pharos will tell the story of a day that should never be forgotten.

 In Manhattan, New York City, there were the 110-floor World Trade Center Twin Towers, called “the heart of the USA” and “the symbol of capitalism”. The building with the antenna was called Tower 1/North Tower and the other one was called Tower 2/South Tower. 

 On September 11, 2001, one hour before the terrorist attacks, American Airlines Flight AA11 took off with 92 passengers from Boston Logan International Airport. However, after takeoff, a strange communication was received at the Boston control tower. Then, at 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight AA11 crashed into Tower 1. Not long after the Tower 1 crash, a second plane crashed into Tower 2. Many people trapped in the buildings were unable to endure the smoke and chose to jump from the tall buildings. The number of people who fell on their own that day is estimated to be around 200. At 9:58:59 AM, Tower 2 collapsed, and at 10:28:31 AM, Tower 1 also collapsed. The number of victims who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on this day totaled 2,977, about 400 of whom were police officers and firefighters. More than 1,000 of the victims’ remains could not be recovered.

 Who is the person most responsible for this terrible crime? The person who planned and executed the 9/11 terror attacks was Osama Bin Laden. He was well known as the head of a terrorist organization called Al Qaeda, an Islamic extremist group, and a fierce anti-American terrorist. The 9/11 terror attacks were suicide attacks which occurred under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. In 2011, ten years after the 9/11 attacks, the Obama administration announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed.

 Meanwhile, there were two other terrorist attacks that happened on that day. The day that the 9/11 attacks happened, there were two more airplane suicide attacks. A third plane attacked the Pentagon, the symbol of the U.S. military, and because of this attack, 184 people died. In addition, a fourth plane was discovered in the empty plains of Pennsylvania. The original destination of the fourth plane was suspected to be the White House or the Capitol in Washington, D.C. At the time, the terrorists on the fourth plane succeeded in hijacking Flight UA93, but after hearing the news of the Twin Towers attack in real time, the passengers fought against the terrorists to prevent further casualties. Flight UA93 was taken to Pennsylvania, which was only 20 minutes away from Washington and it crashed into the ground. It could have resulted in more damage and harm, but thanks to the incredible choice, courage, and sacrifice of all the passengers on flight UA93, further casualties were prevented.

 The 9/11 Memorial Park is located in New York, USA where the Twin Towers once stood. The names of almost 3,000 victims are engraved on it, and the waterfall, which does not stop 365 days a year, symbolizes the tears of the victims and their families. In addition to this, the names of the victims are engraved all over the United States, and everyone commemorates and remembers that day. Currently, South Korea is a country in an armistice, though technically still at war. Not only this, but terrible wars and terrorism are occurring at this very moment, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war. Pharos sincerely prays that the day will come as soon as possible when all countries can be safe from war and terrorism.

78th Reporter • NAM HYE SEUNG • namhyeseung50@gmail.com