According to the Smith article, on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. They hijacked four airplanes in mid-flight. The terrorists had flown two of the four planes planes into the twin towers also known as the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact that was caused from the crash resulted in the buildings catching fire and collapsing. Another one of the planes destroyed part of the Pentagon which is the U.S. military headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Shanksville, Pennsylvania is where the fourth and final plane had crashed. It is believed that terrorists on that plane were planning to destroy either the White House or the U.S. Capitol. However, Passengers that were on that plane fought back against the terrorists and stopped them from hitting their target. In the aftermath, almost 3,000 people lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks