25 years ago, a NASA astronaut witnessed the tragic 9/11 attacks from space. Here's what he saw.

Frank Culbertson had a birds-eye view of one of the most memorable and tragic events in American history.

The NASA astronaut was the only American off of Earth on Sept.

11, 2001.

He was circling the planet aboard the International Space Station (ISS) when terrorists flew commercial jets into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing more than 2,700 people.

The ISS passed over New York shortly after the attacks took place, so Culbertson saw the devastation from an eerie remove.

He shared his thoughts with Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in real time, chronicling the tragedy like no one else could.

The aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trace Center in New York City, as seen by the astronauts onboard the International Space Station on Sept.

11, 2001. (Image credit: NASA) "We could see New York City and the smoke from the fires," Culbertson said.

"Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the people there and everywhere else here — I'm looking up and down the East Coast to see if I can see anything else — and to the people in Washington." Terrorists hijacked four commercial planes on 9/11, flying two of them into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Passengers on the fourth plane overpowered the hijackers, forcing it to crash in a field in Pennsylvania rather than hit the terrorists' intended target, which was likely the U.S.

Capitol building or the White House.

"I hope that the people responsible are caught and brought to justice as soon as possible," Culbertson added.

"But first, our prayers and condolences to all involved.

And I just wanted the folks to know that their city still looks very beautiful from space.