On a foggy Saturday morning in July 1945, the New York City skyline witnessed a shocking accident that still prompts the question today: when did a plane hit the Empire State Building? The answer is July 28, 1945, when a U.Now, s. Army Air Forces bomber accidentally crashed into one of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. Unlike the deliberate attacks of September 11, 2001, this World War II-era incident was a tragic navigational error caused by heavy fog and limited visibility. The collision claimed 14 lives, caused significant structural damage, and produced one of the most miraculous survival stories in aviation history. Understanding exactly when a plane hit the Empire State Building helps separate historical fact from modern myth, and it offers a poignant reminder of how quickly an ordinary day can turn extraordinary.
When Did a Plane Hit the Empire State Building?
The Empire State Building was struck by an aircraft on July 28, 1945. Even so, the crash occurred at approximately 9:40 a. m., on what began as a routine Saturday morning in Midtown Manhattan. A military bomber slammed into the north side of the building between the 78th and 79th floors, igniting a fire and sending debris cascading toward the streets below.
For many people hearing about this event for the first time, the date comes as a surprise. Because the image of a plane striking a New York City skyscraper is so strongly associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
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