What major event occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001?

On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced a significant and tragic terrorist attack that profoundly impacted the nation and the world. On that day, members of the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and another into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was intended for a target in Washington but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overcome the hijackers.

The events of 9/11 resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, substantial damage to infrastructure, and a lasting change in U.S. domestic and foreign policy. The attacks prompted the U.S. to initiate military operations in Afghanistan to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime that was harboring it. This day is commemorated annually in the U.S. as Patriot Day, serving as a reminder of the lives lost and the impact of terrorism on American society. The significance of this event is not only in the immediate aftermath but also in how it reshaped national security and international relations in the subsequent years.