Inside 9/11
| Company type | Documentary series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | August 21, 2005 |
| Founder | Towers Productions |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Documentary television series |
Inside 9/11 is a documentary series in three parts, created by Towers Productions, which first aired on August 21–22, 2005, via the National Geographic Channel. It provides an in-depth examination of the September 11 attacks of 2001, exploring the circumstances leading up to the events as well as their aftermath. The initial episode focuses on the precursors to September 11, while the second episode covers the attacks themselves and their immediate fallout. The series is structured chronologically and includes insights from experts and eyewitnesses.
This documentary became the most-watched program in the history of the National Geographic Channel and earned an Emmy nomination in 2006.
On August 27, 2006, an expanded version was released, incorporating new material on Zacarias Moussaoui and Able Danger. The third episode was broadcast on May 7, 2011, highlighting the death of Osama bin Laden and subsequent terrorist incidents influenced by individuals such as Anwar al-Awlaki, who had connections to training some of the 9/11 hijackers.
War on America
The opening segment investigates events prior to September 11, beginning with the 1993 WTC Bombing, covering the Soviet–Afghan War, Osama bin Laden’s involvement, the establishment of al-Qaeda, and the planning and operatives behind the hijacking plot known as the Planes Operation.
Zero Hour
The second installment recounts the occurrences of September 11, 2001, starting with two hijackers checking in at 5:43 a.m. for American Airlines Flight 11 at Portland International Jetport. It documents Flight 11’s impact on the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., followed by Flight 175 striking South Tower at 9:03 a.m., Flight 77 hitting the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., and United 93 crashing in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m. The episode also covers the collapse of the South Tower at 9:59 a.m., damage to the Pentagon’s E-ring at 10:15 a.m., and the fall of the North Tower at 10:28 a.m.—though it does not include the collapse of World Trade Center 7 at 5:20 p.m. Additionally, it briefly addresses attacks that occurred after September 11.
The War Continues
The final part focuses on post-9/11 developments culminating in Osama bin Laden’s killing. It opens with the raid on bin Laden’s compound and reviews major terrorist incidents such as the 2002 Bali bombings, 2004 Madrid train bombings, assassination of Nick Berg, 7 July 2005 London bombings, 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The narrative concludes with bin Laden’s death in Abbottabad, Pakistan. This episode also explores Anwar al-Awlaki’s involvement related to the 9/11 hijackers and notes his demise from a drone strike on September 30, 2011.
Featured details
At MacDill Air Force Base, a Military Committee examines an intelligence operation known as Able Danger, which identified hijackers Mohamed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi moving throughout the United States undetected due to valid visas, exposing deficiencies in military and FBI monitoring.
Zacarias Moussaoui, often referred to as the "twentieth hijacker," was apprehended on immigration charges about four weeks before September 11 and remains detained; he is unique as the only person formally charged in connection with these attacks.
Nicole Rittenmeyer served as supervising producer for this project.
On September 16, 2007, National Geographic Channel announced that this documentary would be rebroadcast on Singapore’s StarHub TV on September 17, 2007 at 10 p.m., with a subsequent airing scheduled for September 24, 2007.