Collapse of the World Trade Center
The World Trade Center in New York City collapsed on September 11, 2001, as result of the al-Qaeda attacks. Two commercial airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists were deliberately flown into the Twin Towers of the complex, resulting in a total progressive collapse that killed almost 3,000 people. It is the deadliest and most costly building collapse in history.
View of the collapsing North Tower from the north
Fireball from aviation fuel emerges from north side of WTC 2 immediately after the impact from United Airlines Flight 175. Smoke from earlier fires can be seen coming from north side of WTC 1 at right.
WTC 1 "Twin Tower" floor truss system's sprayed-foam fire-resistance insulation material visible on this image of the floor trusswork
The South Tower on fire
World Trade Center (1973–2001)
The original World Trade Center (WTC) was a large complex of seven buildings in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001. At the time of their completion, the Twin Towers—the original 1 World Trade Center at 1,368 feet (417 m), and 2 World Trade Center at 1,362 feet (415.1 m)—were the tallest buildings in the world. Other buildings in the complex included the Marriott World Trade Center, 4 WTC, 5 WTC, 6 WTC, and 7 WTC. The complex contained 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m2) of office space and, prior to its completion, was projected to accommodate an estimated 130,000 people.
The original complex in March 2001. The tower on the left, with antenna spire, was 1 WTC. The tower on the right was 2 WTC. All seven buildings of the WTC complex are partially visible. The red granite-clad building left of the Twin Towers was the original 7 World Trade Center. In the background is the East River.
Radio Row and Cortlandt Street station (background) in 1936
Lower Manhattan in 1980 with the twin towers visible in the background
The exterior frame of the Twin Towers in 1979
