Your timeline is a bit off
8:45 1WTC hit
9:03 2WTC hit
9:17 All NYC area airports closed
9:21 All NYC area bridges and tunnels closed to vehicular traffic
9:40 The FAA halts all flight operations at U.S. airports
You are correct on the FAA, as I was only using decades old personal recollection from radio and tv reports.
So, when did they close the piers?