The September 11 Attacks Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The September 11 Attacks Quiz
Image: Paul Turner/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

About This Quiz

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America altered the world's political and military landscape. How much do you really know about the history of these atrocities?
Who was the operational mastermind of the 9/11 attacks?
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Mohamed Atta
Osama bin Laden
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He hated the United States' support of Israel and wanted to make Americans suffer. Mohammed claimed he planned the attacks "from A to Z."

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's plan originally called for crashing how many planes?
10 planes
18 planes
23 planes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He also wanted to strike targets on both the East and West coasts. But bin Laden convinced him that 10 planes was too risky.

After the South Tower of the World Trade Center was hit, how long did it remain standing before finally collapsing?
3 hours and 12 minutes
1 hour and 20 minutes
1 hour and 53 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The impact's severity greatly affected the structure. After only about 80 minutes, the tower fell.

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Why did al-Qaida select only cross-country flights for their plan?
They were loaded with the greatest amount of explosive jet fuel.
The planes could stay airborne longer.
Security on those flights was less strict.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Missiles need explosives to be effective. Cross-country flights load up on far more fuel than those making shorter trips.

How many total hijackers took part in the 9/11 attacks?
15 hijackers
17 hijackers
19 hijackers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They were all of Middle Eastern descent and determined to carry out their plan. All 19 died.

How many people died at the World Trade Center as a result of the attacks?
2934
2751
2843
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was the worst death toll ever for an attack on American soil. In New York alone, the count was 2,751.

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Although the country had few links to al-Qaida and no connection to 9/11, American leaders used supposed evidence of what to invade Iraq?
SCUD missiles
weapons of mass destruction
anthrax
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Turns out, the evidence was greatly exaggerated or even fabricated. There were no weapons of mass destruction to be found.

On the morning on Sept. 11, 2001, at what time did the FAA order every plane in American airspace to land?
9:45 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
10:20 a.m.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first tower that was struck hadn't even collapsed yet, but by 9:45 a.m. the FAA wanted to make sure no more planes were hijacked.

On which of the four hijacked planes did passengers fight back against the terrorists?
Flight 77
Flight 93
Flight 167
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It became a major motion picture. Flight 93 passengers heard about the other planes via cell phones and decided to take matters into their own hands.

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Near which city did Flight 93 crash?
Washington, D.C.
Newark, N.J.
Shanksville, Pa.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shanksville is just a small town. It will feature a national memorial honoring those who suffered on 9/11.

Minus the hijackers, how many passengers were aboard Flight 93?
98
87
33
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The plane was well under its 182-person capacity that morning, with only 33 people on board. Seven crew members also died.

What was the intended target of Flight 93 before passengers interrupted the hijackers' plans?
the Washington monument
the U.S. Capitol
the city of Pittsburgh
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Initially, the plane was headed toward the U.S. Capitol, although the exact target is uncertain.

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After the attacks, how much time passed before America launched a full-scale war against terrorism?
1 month
3 months
1 year
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

America had the world's sympathies on its side, greasing the rails for a quick invasion of Afghanistan after less than a month.

Before they attacked the terrorists, what did passengers aboard Flight 93 do?
They had a meeting.
They loaded their weapons.
They took a vote.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In true democratic fashion, the passengers took a vote. They foiled the terrorists' plans but lost their own lives in the process.

What was the primary weapon of the hijackers?
time bombs
box-cutting knives
handguns
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They critically injured passengers and crew members to frighten other people on board, but all they used were small knives.

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How long did it take for Osama bin Laden to admit his part in the 9/11 attacks?
24 hours
3 months
3 years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He repeatedly denied his involvement, but the evidence indicated otherwise. After three years, bin Laden admitted helping with the 9/11 plot.

The CIA finally found bid Laden in 2011. How long did they track his courier before pinpointing bin Laden's location?
4 years
5 years
8 years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bin Laden's courier was justifiably careful not to reveal his leader's location, but after four years, the CIA found al-Qaida's figurehead.

How many gallons/liters of jet fuel was Flight 93 carrying as it crashed?
900 gallons (3,406.8 liters)
1,200 gallons (4,542 liters)
7,000 gallons (26,497.8 liters)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

About 7,000 gallons of fuel were on board, enough to cause a huge fireball as the plane crashed.

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What's the name of the Pakistani town where bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces?
Abbottabad
Islamabad
Islamorada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The city is also where many Pakistani military forces are based. Abbottabad featured a large compound where bin Laden supposedly hid for years.

About how long did the secret, quick-strike mission to kill bin Laden last?
about 15 minutes
about 40 minutes
about 2 hours
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mission was complicated by a malfunctioning helicopter, but the SEALs still completed the job in about 40 minutes.

You Got:
/20
Paul Turner/Hulton Archive/Getty Images