Chilling radio transmissions by the September 11 hijackers from the planes they commandeered were played for the first time today.

TRAFFIC streamed inland from the vulnerable Outer Banks of North Carolina yesterday as residents and visitors headed for higher ground ahead of the approaching Hurricane Isabel.

Cars, recreational vehicles and SUVs streamed inland from North Carolina’s coast as up to 90,000 people were urged to get out of the way of Hurricane Isabel, the most powerful storm in four years to menace the eastern US.

Residents up and down the US east coast boarded up windows and the military ordered ships and planes out of harm’s way as Hurricane Isabel headed toward land with 120mph winds.

Fighter jets were eight minutes away from one of the hijacked airliners when it crashed into the World Trade Centre, it was revealed today.