On September 11, 2001, two airplanes hijacked by Islamic extremists crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. It’s been over two decades, and authorities are still discovering more about the attack. The Twin Towers were actually built to withstand cruising speed, but what made these airplanes different?
The airplanes that hit the Twin Towers were said to weigh more, carry more fuel, and fly exponentially faster than the planes whose impact the buildings were designed to withstand. This ultimately led to the collapse of the towers.
What Are the Safety Features of the Twin Towers?
A team of professional architects and structural engineers designed the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. It was meant to withstand hurricane-force winds and even the impact of a Boeing 707 airliner with a speed of less than 200 miles per hour.
The criteria were calculated on the actual impact of a B-25 bomber that was preparing to land in the Newark International Airport on July 28, 1945. It crashed into the Empire State Building and caused several fires on different floors. (Source: Fire Engineering)
What Happened in 9/11?
The airplanes that crashed into the Twin Towers were Boeing 767 commercial jetliners. The hijackers knew they would need to fly the plane faster if they wanted to do irreparable damage. These two planes were a hundred times heavier and faster than the B-25 bomber that hit the Empire State Building.
There was no chance for the two buildings to withstand the impact. The structural steel point of the building was shredded. (Source: Fire Engineering)
What Research Was Done After the Attacks?
The investigative team studied videos and recordings of the event. These studies were done after the attacks. Researchers have reason to believe that the second plane that hit the World Trade Center was traveling faster than the first one. In fact, the second plane was flying so fast that it was on the brink of falling apart as it was approaching the tower.
These guys exceeded even the emergency dive speed. It’s off the chart.
Liz Verdier
Although the structural engineers have not yet determined what impact speed had on the building, they have considered several factors, including the point at where the building was hit. (Source: CBS News)
The Collapse of the Twin Towers
On September 11, 2001, at 10:30 am, the North building of the twin towers collapsed. In less than 15 minutes, the towers were reduced to a pile of rubble. A total of 5,759 people were killed in the attacks. This included the 19 hijackers and 343 firefighters and paramedics.
After the attacks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created. There were other attempts against the United States that truly raised concerns for those responsible. Because of these threats, the DHS heightened restrictions in border security, immigration, and customs.
Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
George W. Bush
(Source: History)