Lois Larson
The 9/11 attacks, which took place on September 11, 2001, involved 19 hijackers taking control of four commercial airliners: American Airlines flights 11 and 77, United Airlines flights 175 and 93. Flight 11 took off from Boston's Logan International Airport, while Flight 77 departed from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. Flight 175 also departed from Boston, and Flight 93 originated from Newark International Airport in New Jersey. These flights were all bound for Los Angeles or San Francisco on the West Coast but were hijacked and diverted towards significant landmarks and buildings, including the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of flights | 4 |
| Flight names | American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93 |
| Airports departed from | Boston Logan International Airport, Dulles International Airport, Newark International Airport |
| Destination cities | Los Angeles, San Francisco |
| Number of crew members | 11, 9, 6, 7 |
| Number of passengers | 81, 56, 58, 37 |
| Number of hijackers | 5, 5, 5, 4 |
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What You'll Learn
- American Airlines Flight 11 left from Boston's Logan International Airport
- United Airlines Flight 175 also took off from Boston
- American Airlines Flight 77 departed from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C
- United Airlines Flight 93 left from Newark International Airport, New Jersey
- Hijackers boarded flights in Portland and Boston
American Airlines Flight 11 left from Boston's Logan International Airport
On the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 took off from Boston's Logan International Airport, carrying 76 passengers, 11 crew members, and 5 hijackers. The flight was scheduled to fly from Boston to Los Angeles, California.
At 8:15 a.m., just 16 minutes after takeoff, Flight 11 had its final routine communication with air traffic controllers. When controllers instructed the pilot to increase the plane's altitude, there was no response, and all subsequent messages went unanswered. Investigators believe the plane was hijacked around this time.
A flight attendant on Flight 11, Betty Ann Ong, alerted ground personnel at 8:19 a.m. that a hijacking was underway and that the cockpit was not responding. She also reported that the hijackers claimed to have a bomb. During the hijacking, the hijackers sprayed tear gas, pepper spray, or another irritant in the cabin to force passengers and flight attendants to the rear of the plane.
At 8:46 a.m., Flight 11 was deliberately crashed into the north face of the World Trade Center's North Tower between the 93rd and 99th floors. This was the first of two planes that crashed into the Twin Towers, symbolizing globalization and America's economic power and prosperity. The impact and subsequent collapse of the towers resulted in numerous casualties, with a total of 630 people dying in the South Tower and a higher number in the North Tower.
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United Airlines Flight 175 also took off from Boston
On the morning of September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 175 took off from Boston's Logan International Airport, bound for Los Angeles. The Boeing 767-200 aircraft carried 56 passengers, including 5 hijackers, and 9 crew members. The flight was scheduled to depart at 08:00 and took off at 08:14 from runway 9, around the same time as American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked.
The team of hijackers on United Airlines Flight 175 was led by Marwan al-Shehhi, who had obtained a commercial pilot's license. The other hijackers were Fayez Banihammad, Hamza al-Ghamdi, Ahmed al-Ghamdi, and Mohand al-Shehri. They had all received training at an al-Qaeda camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, where they learned about weapons and explosives, and later received training in "Western culture and travel" in Karachi, Pakistan.
At 08:33, the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 31,000 feet, and air traffic controllers asked the pilots of Flight 175 if they could see American Airlines Flight 11. The crew responded that Flight 11 was at 29,000 feet, and controllers ordered Flight 175 to turn and avoid the aircraft. The pilots reported hearing a suspicious transmission from Flight 11 upon takeoff, which was the last communication made by Flight 175 before it was hijacked.
It is estimated that Flight 175 was hijacked between 08:42 and 08:46, just minutes before American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The hijackers Banihammad and al-Shehri reportedly forced their way into the cockpit and killed the pilots, while al-Ghamdi and al-Ghamdi moved passengers and crew to the back of the aircraft. At 08:51, the plane changed altitude and deviated from its assigned course, and air traffic controllers were unable to make contact with the flight.
United Airlines Flight 175 was deliberately crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City at 09:03, killing all 65 people on board and causing the deaths of more than 600 people in the building's upper levels, as well as an unknown number of civilians and emergency personnel in the impact zone.
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American Airlines Flight 77 departed from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 departed from Dulles International Airport, located near Washington, D.C. The flight was bound for Los Angeles, California, and took off at 8:20 AM. There were 53 passengers, 6 crew members, and 5 hijackers on board.
Before boarding, three of the terrorists set off the metal detectors but passed subsequent inspections. The hijackers were equipped with knives, but there were no reports of anyone being stabbed, and the two people who made phone calls did not mention the use of a bomb threat.
At 8:51 AM, American Airlines Flight 77 was taken over by five hijackers who forcibly entered the cockpit 31 minutes after takeoff. Controllers at Dulles observed an airplane traveling at a "high rate of speed." Two minutes later, officials at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport alerted the Secret Service of a plane (later identified as Flight 77) headed in the direction of the White House.
At 9:37 AM, Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, instantly killing all passengers on board and 125 civilian and military personnel in the building. The Pentagon is the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense and serves as a symbol of American military power. The attack on the Pentagon was part of a series of coordinated strikes by Al-Qaeda, which also included the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93 and the attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.
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United Airlines Flight 93 left from Newark International Airport, New Jersey
On the morning of September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 left Newark International Airport in New Jersey, destined for San Francisco. The flight was scheduled to depart at 8:00 a.m., but it was delayed by 42 minutes. On board were 7 crew members and 37 passengers, including 4 hijackers.
The 9/11 Commission's final report revealed that the hijackers were armed with knives and possibly fake bombs. They also used tear gas, pepper spray, or a similar irritant to force passengers and crew to the rear of the cabin.
Flight 93 was the only one of the four hijacked flights on 9/11 that did not reach its intended target, believed to be the Capitol building. The plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the hijackers.
The 9/11 Commission concluded that the terrorists' targets were symbolic, chosen to promote fear and weaken the United States' standing in the world. The Capitol building, as the centre of American legislative government, would have been a powerful symbol of American democracy and governance.
The brave actions of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, who fought back against the hijackers, prevented further loss of life and showcased the resilience and courage in the face of unimaginable adversity.
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Hijackers boarded flights in Portland and Boston
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Mohamed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari boarded a Colgan Air (US Airways Express) flight from Portland International Jetport to Boston's Logan International Airport. Atta and al-Omari were the first two of five hijackers who would later board American Airlines Flight 11, which departed from Logan Airport at 7:59 am.
The two men had flown from Portland to Boston, where they connected to Flight 11, which was headed to Los Angeles. The flight from Portland was delayed, and Atta's luggage did not make it onto Flight 11. His bags were later recovered and found to contain incriminating items, including airline uniforms, flight manuals, and a copy of his will written in Arabic.
At 6:52 am, Marwan al-Shehhi, the hijacker pilot of United Airlines Flight 175, also departing from Logan Airport, called Atta to confirm that the attacks were ready to begin. At 7:40 am, all five hijackers were aboard Flight 11, scheduled to depart at 7:45 am. The aircraft received clearance to push back from Gate B32 at 7:46 am and was cleared for takeoff at 7:50 am.
United Airlines Flight 175 took off from Boston, also headed for Los Angeles. It made its last routine communication with air traffic controllers before investigators believe it was hijacked. The transponder code was changed about five minutes after the last communication.
In addition to the flights that departed from Boston, United Airlines Flight 93 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey, bound for San Francisco. It was carrying 7 crew members and 37 passengers, including 4 hijackers.
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Frequently asked questions
The flights involved in the 9/11 attacks departed from different airports. American Airlines Flight 11 took off from Boston’s Logan International Airport, United Airlines Flight 175 also departed from Boston, Flight 77 left from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., and United Airlines Flight 93 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
Four flights were hijacked during the 9/11 attacks.
All four flights were headed to Los Angeles, California, or San Francisco.
No survivors have been reported from the flights involved in the 9/11 attacks.
The flights were deliberately crashed into buildings. Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, and Flight 77 was headed towards the White House.
