On this day: ‘I can hear you… and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon’

On a September morning in 2001, the United States experienced a catastrophic terrorist attack that would alter the course of history. At 8:46 am, American Airlines Flight 11, carrying 92 passengers, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact occurred between floors 93 and 97, where Marsh McLennan was headquartered, resulting in the deaths of all 358 people present.

Many more would perish as those above the impact zone succumbed to fire, asphyxiation, or choking. In a matter of minutes, it became apparent that this was no ordinary accident but a deliberate terrorist assault on the nation's most populous city.

United Airlines Flight 175, en route from Boston to Los Angeles, struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 am. As the passengers on the plane learned of the attack, they desperately tried to regain control of the aircraft. Only moments later, United Flight 93 met its tragic fate after a heroic group of passengers fought back against the hijackers, ultimately crashing in Pennsylvania.

The perpetrators of these attacks were affiliated with al-Qa'eda, a terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden, who had a history of orchestrating acts of violence against the United States.