Nearly 25 Years After 9/11: The Deaths, Injuries and Legacy Behind the Numbers
As the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the rituals of remembrance are returning: names read aloud at Ground Zero, flags lowered, moments of silence. Behind those ceremonies is a set of numbers that still defines the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.
On Sept. 11, 2001, four hijacked planes struck New York, the Washington area and Pennsylvania. The 9/11 Memorial Museum puts the death toll at 2,977 people, a figure that includes passengers and crew aboard the four planes but does not include the hijackers. The victims came from 90 countries, and 441 first responders were killed.
The toll did not end that morning. The exact number of people injured in the attacks remains unclear, but thousands survived with physical and emotional injuries. More than 130,000 responders and survivors connected to the World Trade Center and related sites are now enrolled in the federally funded World Trade Center Health Program, which monitors and treats illnesses linked to exposure during and after the attacks.
Officials also draw a distinction between the official Sept. 11 death toll and the deaths that followed. The 2,977 figure does not include the thousands of first responders, recovery workers and survivors who later died from illnesses tied to exposure at Ground Zero and other 9/11-related sites.
Flight breakdown:
- American Airlines Flight 11: 11 crew members, 76 passengers and five hijackers
- United Airlines Flight 175: 9 crew members, 51 passengers and five hijackers
- American Airlines Flight 77: 6 crew members, 53 passengers and five hijackers
- United Airlines Flight 93: 7 crew members, 33 passengers and four hijackers
The 2,977 figure from the 9/11 Memorial Museum does not include the hijackers.
The attacks reshaped American life in ways that are still unfolding. They led to a sweeping overhaul of national security and intelligence, changed how airports screen passengers, and set off wars and military campaigns that would dominate U.S. foreign policy for years. For families and communities, the anniversary is also a reminder that grief and illness remain ongoing.
As communities across the country honor the victims this week, many still ask the same questions: How many died? How many were injured? What has the aftermath cost? The answers are both precise and impossible to fully capture.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Follow her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 9/11 by the numbers: Deaths, injuries and impact