A visitor pauses at the reflecting pools to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Jeenah Moon | Getty Images
On September 11, 2001, members of Al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger airliners. They flew two planes into the twin skyscrapers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan around 9 a.m., causing both towers to collapse within hours. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., while a fourth — likely intended for the U.S. Capitol building — crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa. after an apparent struggle between passengers and hijackers.
The attack became the deadliest-ever terrorist attack on U.S. soil, killing nearly 3,000 people aboard the hijacked planes, in the towers and at the Pentagon. The attack was followed by the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq amid a declared “War on Terror”.
On the attack’s 25th anniversary, Americans are remembering the victims with moments of silence and ceremonies at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and in Shanksville. All living former presidents, Vice President JD Vance and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were among the notable officials present at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, while President Trump spoke at the Pentagon ceremony. Below are a collection of photos showing how first responders and citizens are marking the occasion.
A man touches the wall of the Empty Sky 9/11 Memoroial in Jersey City, New Jersey as the sun rises behind lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center on the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2026.
Gary Hershorn | Corbis News | Getty Images
Military personnel and first responders watch as an American flag hangs from the side of the Pentagon to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on September 11, 2026.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
A person pauses at the memorial ahead of a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
Spencer Platt | Afp | Getty Images
A person holds a photo of a firefighter who died in the 9/11 attacks.
Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images
Police officers gather near One World Trade Center during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Ryan Murphy | Afp | Getty Images
Rosanne Spirito, 49, and daughters Sabrina, 22, and Amanda, 20, who lost their sister Catherine Lisa LoGuidice, stand at a reflecting pool.
Adam Gray | Getty Images
United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stands at the memorial before a ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026, in New York City.
Adam Gray | Getty Images
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump listen to the national anthem during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on September 11, 2026.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Fire Department of New York (FDNY) firefighters pay their respects next to the reflecting pools at the 9/11 Memorial.
Jeenah Moon | Reuters
Firefighters salute outside the FDNY Ten House during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York.
Ryan Murphy | Afp | Getty Images
(L-R) Dr. Jill Biden, Former President Joe Biden, Laura Bush, Former President George W. Bush, Michael Bloomberg, Vice President JD Vance and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani attend the ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026, in New York City.
Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
9/11 survivor George Mironis, left, and a first responder visit the memorial ahead of the 25th anniversary commemoration ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Families of the victims of the Flight 93 walk to the memorial stone placed at the crash site during memorial services on September 11, 2026 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Jeff Swensen | Getty Images
People stand inside the Oculus as sunlight passing through its skylight forms two parallel columns of light representing the original Twin Towers as part of the “Wedge of Light” on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, on September 11, 2026 in New York City.
Andres Kudacki | Getty Images
An attendee places their hand on the memorial ahead of the 25th anniversary commemoration ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York.
David Dee Delgado | Bloomberg | Getty Images
