2,977 lights in memory of 9/11 victims: Twin Towers recreated over New York
2,977 drones honor the victims of 9/11 in New York (photo: Getty Images)
On the evening of September 9, 2,977 illuminated drones were launched over New York Harbor — one for each person who died as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, according to ABC7.
What the installation looked like
The drones were launched from Governors Island. At first, the lights rose in a spiral before forming the full-scale outlines of the World Trade Center towers.
The light composition appeared alongside the beams of the Tribute in Light memorial installation. It was accompanied by music by Philip Glass, John Adams and Max Richter.
Among the works was “On the Transmigration of Souls,” which Adams wrote in memory of the victims of the attacks.
Families of the victims took part in the project
The installation was developed with the participation of victims’ relatives, people who survived the attacks, and first responders. According to the project team’s concept, the exact number of lights was intended to commemorate each life behind the overall death toll.
One of the project participants was firefighter Tim Brown. He helped create the installation in memory of those who died, including three of his colleagues — Chris Blackwell, Terry Hutton and Michael Lynch.
“Three of the 2,977 lights are theirs,” Brown said.
What happened on September 11, 2001
On September 11, 2001, terrorists from the al-Qaeda group hijacked four passenger planes in the United States.
They flew two of them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, while the third was flown into the Pentagon.
The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers.
As a result of the impacts and fires, both Twin Towers collapsed. A total of 2,977 people were killed in the terrorist attacks. September 11, 2026, marks 25 years since the tragedy.
