Minute by minute timetable of events of perhaps the most tragic day in United States history (all times are Eastern Standard Time)

On Sept 11, 2001, the first blow in New York's day of terror took place at 8:42 a.m., when the first plane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.  The City's response came virtually immediately thereafter, and continued throughout the day. 

8:42 a.m.

American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 with 81 passengers, nine flight attendants and two pilots, hijacked after takeoff from Boston en route to Los Angeles, slams into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

9:00 a.m.

18 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767, heading to Los Angeles, carrying 58 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots, slams into the south tower of the Trade Center.

9:17 a.m.

The FAA shuts down all New York City area airports.

9:21 a.m.

New York City Port Authority orders all bridges and tunnels in the New York City area closed.

9:24 a.m.

President Bush calls the plane crashes at the World Trade Center "an apparent terrorist attack on our country."

9:32 a.m. 

The New York Stock Exchange is closed down.

9:40 a.m.

The FAA shuts down the entire nationwide air traffic system.  All flights at U.S. airports are stopped for the first time U.S. history.

9:43 a.m. 

American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 that took off from Dulles airport heading to Los Angeles with 58 passengers and six crew members aboard, crashes into a helicopter landing pad near the Pentagon.  Evacuation begins immediately.

9:45 a.m. 

The White House is evacuated.

9:57 a.m.

President Bush departs from Florida, where he had been giving a speech to a school.

10:05 a.m.

The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses to the ground, spewing debris for several square blocks. A massive could of dust and debris forms and engulfs the building.

10:10 a.m.

Portion of the Pentagon collapses as a result of the airplane crash there.

10:13 a.m.

More than 11,000 people are evacuated from the United Nations building in New York City.

10:22 a.m.

The State and Justice departments, as well as the World Bank, in Washington are evacuated.

10:24 a.m.

The FAA diverts all inbound transatlantic aircraft to Canada.

10:28 a.m.

The north tower of the World Trade Center collapses in a plum of smoke and debris.

10:29 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 that took off from Newark, N.J. heading for San Francisco, carrying 38 passengers, two pilots and five flight attendants, crashes just north of the Somerset County Airport, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

10:45 a.m.

All federal office buildings in Washing are evacuated.

10:46 a.m.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell return to the United States from Latin America.

10:53 a.m.

New York cancels it's scheduled primary elections.

10:54 a.m.

Israel evacuates all diplomatic missions.

10:57 a.m.

Governor George Pataki closes all New York state offices.

11:02 a.m.

New York Mayor Rudy Guilliani orders an evacuation of lower Manhattan south of Canal Street.

12:04 p.m.

Los Angeles International Airport is shut down and evacuated.

12:15 p.m. 

San Francisco International Airport is evacuated and shut down.

1:04 p.m.

President Bush addresses the nation and advises that the U.S. military has been placed on high alert worldwide and states that: "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."

1:27 p.m.

The City of Washington declares a state of emergency.

1:44 p.m. 

Five battleships and two aircraft carriers leave the U.S. Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia, and head to the East Coast to provide air defense for New York and Washington.

1:48 p.m. 

President Bush leaves Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana aboard Air Force One and flies to the Strategic Air Command in Nebraska.

2:49 p.m.

Mayor Giuliani holds a press  conference and states that the number of people killed is "more than any of us can bear."

4:06 p.m.

California sends expert teams to New York to help in the search-and-rescue efforts.

4:10 p.m.

World Trade Center building # 7 catches on fire.

4:30 p.m.

President Bush leaves Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska for Washington.

5:25 p.m.

7 World Trade Center, a 47 story building, collapses from ancillary damage from the morning's attack.

6:10 p.m.

Mayor Giuliani asks all non-essential persons to stay out of New York the following day.

9:00 p.m.

President Bush addresses the nation and says that the United States will make no distinction between those who committed the crime and those who harbor them.

9:08 p.m.

The governor of New York announces that New York City will be shut down below 14th Street.

9:57 p.m.

Mayor Giuliani closes all New York City schools for the following day.