Fire fighters battle stubborn fires through the night at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Fire fighters battle stubborn fires through the night at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The fire was caused when a hijacked American Airlines flight slammed into the building earlier in the day. The terrorist attack caused extensive damage to the west face of the building and followed similar attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.02 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 950445-Z-WAB86-373.jpg Photo Gallery