To determine the total number of videos released of the four attack planes involved in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, we need to consider the available evidence for each plane. The four planes were American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, which struck the World Trade Center; American Airlines Flight 77, which hit the Pentagon; and United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Below, I’ll assess the video evidence for each plane based on widely known and publicly released footage.
### American Airlines Flight 11 (First Plane to Hit the World Trade Center)
This plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM. The most well-known video capturing this event was recorded by Jules Naudet, a French filmmaker who was shooting a documentary about New York City firefighters. This footage, featured in the documentary *9/11*, is the only widely recognized clear video showing the plane hitting the tower. Given the unexpected nature of the first attack, few cameras were rolling at the time, and no other distinct, publicly released videos of this impact are commonly cited. Thus, for Flight 11, there is:
- **Number of videos**: 1
### United Airlines Flight 175 (Second Plane to Hit the World Trade Center)
This plane hit the South Tower at 9:03 AM, after the first attack had already occurred. By this time, numerous news cameras, helicopters, and bystanders were focused on the burning North Tower, resulting in multiple recordings of Flight 175’s impact. Footage was captured by major news networks such as CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS, as well as international outlets and amateur videographers. While an exact count is difficult without a comprehensive archive, estimates based on documentaries and historical accounts suggest a significant number of distinct videos. Conservatively, at least 20-30 unique videos are known from various angles, though the total could be higher given the live broadcasts and amateur recordings. For a reasonable estimate, I’ll use:
- **Number of videos**: Approximately 20 (acknowledging this is a minimum based on widespread documentation)
### American Airlines Flight 77 (Plane That Hit the Pentagon)
This plane struck the Pentagon at 9:37 AM. The only publicly released video showing the impact comes from a security camera at the Pentagon. Released by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2006 following a Freedom of Information Act request, this footage shows a brief blur of the plane hitting the building. Despite speculation about additional unreleased footage from nearby cameras (e.g., at gas stations or hotels), no other videos have been officially made public. Therefore, for Flight 77, we have:
- **Number of videos**: 1
### United Airlines Flight 93 (Plane That Crashed in Pennsylvania)
This plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 AM after passengers attempted to regain control from the hijackers. Unlike the other attack sites, this location was rural, with no known cameras present to capture the crash. No video footage of the plane in flight or crashing has been released or is known to exist from public sources. Thus, for Flight 93:
- **Number of videos**: 0
### Total Number of Videos
Combining the counts for each plane:
- Flight 11: 1 video
- Flight 175: Approximately 20 videos
- Flight 77: 1 video
- Flight 93: 0 videos
Adding these together gives a total range:
- **Minimum total**: 1 + 20 + 1 + 0 = 22 videos
- **Maximum estimate**: If we consider a higher end for Flight 175 (e.g., up to 30), the total could reach 32 videos.
However, without an official tally from an authoritative source like the 9/11 Commission Report or a video archive, precision is challenging. The term "released" implies footage made publicly available, whether by government, news organizations, or individuals. Given Flight 175’s extensive coverage, the total likely exceeds 20, but I’ll provide a conservative yet informed estimate.
### Final Answer
The exact total number of videos released of the four attack planes on September 11, 2001, is not definitively documented in a single accessible source. However, based on widely known evidence:
- There is at least 1 video of American Airlines Flight 11 hitting the North Tower.
- There are numerous videos (estimated at around 20 or more) of United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the South Tower.
- There is 1 video of American Airlines Flight 77 hitting the Pentagon.
- There are no known videos of United Airlines Flight 93 crashing in Pennsylvania.
Thus, a reasonable estimate is that **approximately 22 to 32 videos** of the four attack planes were released, with the majority capturing the second World Trade Center impact. Due to the variability in counting Flight 175’s videos, I’ll conclude with a conservative total of **around 25 videos**, acknowledging that the actual number could be higher.
### American Airlines Flight 11 (First Plane to Hit the World Trade Center)
This plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM. The most well-known video capturing this event was recorded by Jules Naudet, a French filmmaker who was shooting a documentary about New York City firefighters. This footage, featured in the documentary *9/11*, is the only widely recognized clear video showing the plane hitting the tower. Given the unexpected nature of the first attack, few cameras were rolling at the time, and no other distinct, publicly released videos of this impact are commonly cited. Thus, for Flight 11, there is:
- **Number of videos**: 1
### United Airlines Flight 175 (Second Plane to Hit the World Trade Center)
This plane hit the South Tower at 9:03 AM, after the first attack had already occurred. By this time, numerous news cameras, helicopters, and bystanders were focused on the burning North Tower, resulting in multiple recordings of Flight 175’s impact. Footage was captured by major news networks such as CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS, as well as international outlets and amateur videographers. While an exact count is difficult without a comprehensive archive, estimates based on documentaries and historical accounts suggest a significant number of distinct videos. Conservatively, at least 20-30 unique videos are known from various angles, though the total could be higher given the live broadcasts and amateur recordings. For a reasonable estimate, I’ll use:
- **Number of videos**: Approximately 20 (acknowledging this is a minimum based on widespread documentation)
### American Airlines Flight 77 (Plane That Hit the Pentagon)
This plane struck the Pentagon at 9:37 AM. The only publicly released video showing the impact comes from a security camera at the Pentagon. Released by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2006 following a Freedom of Information Act request, this footage shows a brief blur of the plane hitting the building. Despite speculation about additional unreleased footage from nearby cameras (e.g., at gas stations or hotels), no other videos have been officially made public. Therefore, for Flight 77, we have:
- **Number of videos**: 1
### United Airlines Flight 93 (Plane That Crashed in Pennsylvania)
This plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 AM after passengers attempted to regain control from the hijackers. Unlike the other attack sites, this location was rural, with no known cameras present to capture the crash. No video footage of the plane in flight or crashing has been released or is known to exist from public sources. Thus, for Flight 93:
- **Number of videos**: 0
### Total Number of Videos
Combining the counts for each plane:
- Flight 11: 1 video
- Flight 175: Approximately 20 videos
- Flight 77: 1 video
- Flight 93: 0 videos
Adding these together gives a total range:
- **Minimum total**: 1 + 20 + 1 + 0 = 22 videos
- **Maximum estimate**: If we consider a higher end for Flight 175 (e.g., up to 30), the total could reach 32 videos.
However, without an official tally from an authoritative source like the 9/11 Commission Report or a video archive, precision is challenging. The term "released" implies footage made publicly available, whether by government, news organizations, or individuals. Given Flight 175’s extensive coverage, the total likely exceeds 20, but I’ll provide a conservative yet informed estimate.
### Final Answer
The exact total number of videos released of the four attack planes on September 11, 2001, is not definitively documented in a single accessible source. However, based on widely known evidence:
- There is at least 1 video of American Airlines Flight 11 hitting the North Tower.
- There are numerous videos (estimated at around 20 or more) of United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the South Tower.
- There is 1 video of American Airlines Flight 77 hitting the Pentagon.
- There are no known videos of United Airlines Flight 93 crashing in Pennsylvania.
Thus, a reasonable estimate is that **approximately 22 to 32 videos** of the four attack planes were released, with the majority capturing the second World Trade Center impact. Due to the variability in counting Flight 175’s videos, I’ll conclude with a conservative total of **around 25 videos**, acknowledging that the actual number could be higher.