NEW YORK has honoured the victims of 9/11 by reconstructing the Twin Towers with thousands of drones, 25 years after the horror attacks.

In an astonishing display over New York Harbour, 2,977 formed the outline of the twin towers at full scale on Wednesday night.

The Tribute in Light shining over the New York City skyline at night, with drones forming patterns in the sky.The astonishing display showed 2,977 drones light up the sky as they aligned Credit: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock Drone light display creating the outline of the Twin Towers and a beam of light over New York Harbor.The drones formed the outline of the twin towers at full scale Credit: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

Titled 2,977 Lights Over New York Harbour, each drone represented a victim of the atrocity on September 11, 2001.

Stunning footage showed the sky illuminated as the drones aligned to form the towers silhouettes.

The memorial was developed by artists and producers in collaboration survivors, victims’ families and first responders to 9/11.

Terry Strada, wife of Tom Strada who was killed in the attacks, said the display will “carry the memory” of those lost.

People viewing the Tribute in Light and a structural light display of the Twin Towers across the water from New York City at night.The drone display took place alongside New York’s long-running Tribute in Light Credit: Getty Images 9/11 25th Anniversary Tribute in Lights in New York, United States - 08 Sep 2026Two columns formed by 88 powerful search lights resemble the shape of the fallen towers Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

She said: “For my husband, Tom, and for all the beautiful souls we lost on September 11, may these lights carry their memory upward and remind the world that even in our darkest hour, their light still shines.

“To illuminate the sky is to remind a new generation not only of all we lost, but of who we became in the aftermath, one nation united in grief, in love, and in resolve, rising together from the ashes.”

The drone display took place alongside New York’s long-running Tribute in Light.

Two columns, created by 88 powerful search lights, are used to resemble the shape of the fallen towers.

The commemoration was first held as a temporary display in 2002 before becoming an annual memorial organised by the Municipal Art Society of New York.

American flags will be flown at half-staff across the US today as the country marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks .

Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes on September 11, 2001, flying two into the Twin Towers and another into the .

The fourth plane crashed into a Pennsylvanian field after a passenger revolt.

The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York CityThe South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses after the twin towers were hit by hijacked planes Credit: Reuters Sept 11 AnniversaryRubble and ash fill streets in Lower Manhattan after two hijacked airliners crashed into the World Trade Center’s twin towers Credit: AP

Commemorations and a moment of silence will take place near Shanksville, Pennsylvania honoring the people who died when Flight 93 crashed into a field.

In Washington DC , memorial services will be held at the Pentagon where Flight 77 crashed.

The seventh moment of silence will happen once all of the names of the victims who died on 9/11 are read aloud.

Shortly after the 2001 attacks, Congress designated September 11 as Patriot Day – a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

US President will commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon.

, the vice-president, will represent the White House in New York.