[Reading level: C1 – Advanced]
September 11, 2001 – American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked by five al Qaeda terrorists led by Mohamed Atta and was deliberately crashed into the North Tower (on the right) of the World Trade Center at 8:46am local time.
Another five al Qaeda hijackers then flew United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower – with its impact creating the fireball seen on the left – at 9:30am.
Crew and passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 successfully resisted a similar hijacking attempt and the plane was forced to crash into a field in rural Pennsylvania at 10:03am.
In total, the September 11 attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people, in addition to the deaths of the 19 hijackers.
Falling man
The photo of a man either falling from an escape attempt or jumping to escape a slower death at the top of the smouldering, crumbling North Tower is one of the most extraordinary images of 9/11.
In the picture, the man departs from this world like an arrow. Although he has not chosen his fate, he appears to have, in his last instants of life, embraced it. If he were not falling, he might very well be flying. He appears relaxed, hurtling through the air. He appears comfortable in the grip of unimaginable motion. He does not appear intimidated by gravity’s divine suction or by what awaits him. His arms are by his side. His left leg is bent at the knee, almost casually. His white shirt, or jacket, is billowing free. His black high-tops are still on his feet. In all the other pictures, the people who did what he did – jumped – appear to be struggling against their fates.
Attack on the Pentagon
Five al Qaeda hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the west side of the Pentagon housing the US Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia, at 9:37am. The plane penetrated three of the Pentagon’s five rings, killing more than 100 people inside the building as well as everyone onboard the flight.
Covered in dust
Debris from the collapse of the Twin Towers blanketed Lower Manhattan. The toxic dust is estimated to have made more than 18,000 people ill since 9/11.
Firefighters, police, doctors, paramedics and other emergency workers rushed to the World Trade Center as soon as the first plane hit. It is still the deadliest single event for emergency services in US history, with 441 first responders dying in their efforts to save lives.
View from space
A view from NASA’s Landsat 7 satellite shows smoke billowing up above New York City in the aftermath of the destruction of the Twin Towers.
Rubble smoulders
The South Tower crashed to the ground at 9:59am after fire ripped through it for 56 minutes. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28am after burning for 102 minutes. Debris from the collapsing North Tower hit the nearby, smaller 7 World Trade Center building, starting fires that eventually caused the building also to collapse.
Tribute in Light
This installation of 88 searchlights projected into the sky in two blue columns representing the Twin Towers started as a temporary act of remembrance in 2002 – but has now become an annual event to mark the anniversary.
The beams of light can be seen throughout New York City and in most of the suburbs of Long Island and northern New Jersey on clear nights.
Freedom Tower
The first cornerstone of the replacement for the Twin Towers, officially known as One World Trade Center, was set down in July 2004 – and the skyscraper opened in November 2014.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210908-iconic-images-from-the-september-11-attacks-and-their-aftermath
WORD BANK:
terrorist /ˈter·ə·rəst/ [B2] (n): kẻ khủng bố
deliberately /dɪˈlɪb.ər.ət.li/ [B2] (adv): cố tình
hijacker /ˈhaɪ.dʒæk.ər/( n): không tặc
crew /kruː/ [B1] (n): phi hành đoàn
resist /rɪˈzɪst/ [C1] (v): kháng cự
claim the life/lives of sb (v): cướp đi sinh mạng của ai
smouldering /ˈsməʊl.də.rɪŋ/ (adj): cháy âm ỉ
crumbling /ˈkrʌm.bə.lɪŋ/ (adj): đổ nát, co rúm lại
depart from this world (idiom): rời khỏi thế giới này, qua đời
arrow /ˈær.əʊ/ (n): mũi tên
instant /ˈɪn.stənt/ (n): khoảnh khắc
embrace /ɪmˈbreɪs/ [C1] (v): đón chào, tận hưởng
hurtle /ˈhɜː.təl/ (v): lao nhanh qua cái gì
intimidated /ɪnˈtɪm.ɪ.deɪ.tɪd/ (adj): sợ hãi
divine /dɪˈvaɪn/ (adj): thuộc về thần thánh
suction /ˈsʌk.ʃən/ (n): sức hút
high-tops /ˈhɑɪˌtɑps/ (n): đôi giày cổ cao
penetrate /ˈpen.ə.treɪt/ (v): xuyên thủng
debris /ˈdeb.riː/ (n): mảnh vỡ
paramedic /ˌpær.əˈmed.ɪk/ (n): nhân viên cứu thương
in the aftermath of sth (pre): sau, và là hệ quả của cái gì
rip through sth (v): phá hủy cái gì một cách nhanh chóng
project /prəˈdʒekt/ (v): chiếu (đèn)
remembrance /rɪˈmem·brəns/ (n): sự tưởng nhớ
beam /biːm/ (n): chùm
cornerstone /ˈkɔː.nə.stəʊn/ (n): nền móng
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