On September 11, 2001, Lillian was in her office on the thirteenth floor overlooking the Pentagon. Her office in Crystal City, Virginia, was just a few blocks away. She’d left her meeting in the conference room when someone came in and told everyone. “Planes have hit the Twin Towers in New York.” She watched as the third plane, American Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon. She remembers the impact and the mushroom cloud. Here is the timeline of 9/11.

At 8:46 a.m. EDT on September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 hit the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Eleven crewmembers and 81 passengers were on board.

Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03, United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower. Nine crewmembers and 56 passengers were on board.

At 9:37, thirty-four minutes later, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. Six crewmembers and 59 passengers were on board.

Twenty-six minutes later, at 10:03, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Seven crewmembers and 33 passengers were on board.

On the Four Planes We Lost:

  • 33 American and United Airlines Crewmembers
  • 229 Passengers

In New York, we lost:

  • 2,312 civilians in and around the Twin Towers
  • 343 members of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
  • 23 New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers
  • 37 Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) officers

At the Pentagon, we lost:

  • 125 military and civilian personnel

In one hour and 17 minutes, we lost 3,102 bright lights.

  • 2,785 American citizens
  • 250 foreign nationals from 90 countries
  • 67 undocumented workers (approximately)