The Fateful Flight 11 Hijacking: Boston's Logan Airport

On the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists. The flight, which was scheduled to fly from Boston Logan International Airport to Los Angeles, was hijacked around the same time as takeoff. The hijackers deliberately crashed the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in New York City, killing everyone on board and over a thousand people in the building.

Flight 11's departure airport

On September 11, 2001, five al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which was a domestic passenger flight scheduled to fly from Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts to Los Angeles. The flight took off from Boston at 7:59 AM.

Mohamed Atta, the ringleader of the attacks, and fellow hijacker Abdulaziz al-Omari arrived at Portland International Jetport in Maine at 5:41 AM. They boarded a commuter flight to Boston Logan International Airport, where they then boarded American Airlines Flight 11. At the Portland ticket counter, Atta asked the ticket agent, Mike Tuohey, for his boarding pass for Flight 11. When Tuohey told Atta that he would have to check in again when he reached Logan, Atta appeared angry, saying that he had been assured of a "one-step check-in".

At 6:45 AM, the flight from Portland arrived in Boston. Three other hijackers, Waleed al-Shehri, Wail al-Shehri, and Satam al-Suqami, arrived at Logan Airport at the same time, having left their rental car in the airport parking lot. At 6:52 AM, Marwan al-Shehhi, the hijacker pilot of United Airlines Flight 175, called Atta from a payphone in Logan Airport, likely to confirm that the attacks were ready to begin.

Atta and Omari checked in and went through security in Boston, as did Suqami, Wail al-Shehri, and Waleed al-Shehri. Wail al-Shehri and Suqami each checked one bag, while Waleed al-Shehri did not check any bags. Despite setting off the CAPPS screening, the three hijackers did not undergo extra scrutiny at the passenger security checkpoint as the screening was only for luggage. By 7:40 AM, all five hijackers were aboard the flight, scheduled to depart at 7:45 AM.

Hijackers' boarding process

On the morning of September 11, 2001, five al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 as part of the September 11 attacks. The flight was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental service from Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts to Los Angeles International.

The hijackers of Flight 11 were Mohamed Atta, Abdulaziz al-Omari, Waleed al-Shehri, Wail al-Shehri, and Satam al-Suqami. Atta and al-Omari arrived at Portland International Jetport in Maine at 05:41 Eastern Daylight Time on the day of the attacks. At the Portland ticket counter, Atta asked ticket agent Mike Tuohey for his boarding pass for Flight 11. When Tuohey informed Atta that he would have to check in again in Logan, Atta appeared angry, stating that he had been assured of "one-step check-in". Despite this, Atta and al-Omari checked in and went through security in Boston.

The other three hijackers, Waleed al-Shehri, Wail al-Shehri, and Satam al-Suqami, arrived at Logan Airport at the same time as the flight from Portland landed. All three checked in for the flight in Boston. Wail al-Shehri and Suqami each checked one bag, while Waleed al-Shehri did not check any bags. CAPPS selected all three for a detailed luggage check. However, as the CAPPS screening was only for luggage, the three hijackers did not undergo any extra scrutiny at the passenger security checkpoint.

By 07:40, all five hijackers were aboard Flight 11, scheduled to depart at 07:45. Atta sat in business class seat 8D, with al-Omari in 8G and Suqami in 10B. Waleed and Wail al-Shehri sat in first-class seats 2B and 2A. Shortly before takeoff, American Airlines flight service manager Michael Woodward walked aboard for a final check. He briefly passed Atta, later reporting him as having a "brooding expression", before leaving the plane.

Crash site

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists. The flight was scheduled to fly from Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts to Los Angeles International. The aircraft involved, a Boeing 767-200ER, was carrying 92 passengers and crew members.

The hijackers boarded a commuter flight to Boston Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, from Portland International Jetport in Maine. Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari, the intended hijackers, passed through security at the Portland airport at 5:41 a.m. local time. Atta, the ringleader of the attacks, mistakenly announced to the passengers that the flight was being hijacked and that they were returning to the airport.

At 8:24 a.m., Atta's voice was heard by Boston air traffic controllers, saying, "We have some planes. Just stay quiet and you'll be O.K. We are returning to the airport." He then said, "Nobody move. Everything will be okay. If you try to make any moves, you'll endanger yourself and the airplane. Just stay quiet."

At 8:46 a.m., Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and over a thousand people in the building. The crash site was a scene of devastation, with the tower burning and eventually collapsing. The attack was the single deadliest act of terrorism in history, with a death toll of 2,977 people.

The impact of the crash and the subsequent fires caused extensive damage to the North Tower. The plane hit between the 93rd and 99th floors, and the impact destroyed everything in its path. The fires caused by the crash spread across multiple floors and intensified due to the presence of office materials and furniture, which acted as fuel. The intense heat and flames weakened the steel structure of the tower, leading to its eventual collapse.

The crash site was immediately evacuated, and emergency services rushed to the scene. As the tower burned, people trapped inside desperately tried to escape. Some chose to jump from the upper floors rather than be consumed by the flames or smoke inhalation. It was a harrowing scene, with onlookers witnessing the horror of those trapped above the impact zone.

The North Tower stood tall at 1,368 feet (417 meters) with 110 stories. It was one of the tallest structures in New York City, and its collapse sent shockwaves through the city and the world. The crash site became a focal point for rescue and recovery efforts, with teams working tirelessly to search for survivors and clear the debris.

The events of that day, now known as 9/11, changed the course of history and marked a devastating chapter in the story of aviation. The world bore witness to the tragic loss of life and the heroic efforts of those who risked their own lives to save others. The site of the crash became hallowed ground, a reminder of the fragility of life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Timeline of events

On the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked after taking off from Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts. The flight was scheduled to fly from Boston to Los Angeles as part of American Airlines' daily morning transcontinental service. Here is a timeline of the events that occurred on that fateful day:

5:41 a.m. EDT

Mohamed Atta, the ringleader of the attacks, and fellow hijacker Abdulaziz al-Omari arrive at Portland International Jetport in Maine. They pass through security and board a commuter flight to Boston.

6:45 a.m.

The flight from Portland arrives in Boston. Three other hijackers, Waleed al-Shehri, Wail al-Shehri, and Satam al-Suqami, arrive at Logan Airport at the same time, having left their rental car in the airport parking lot.

6:52 a.m.

Marwan al-Shehhi, the hijacker pilot of United Airlines Flight 175, calls Atta from a payphone in Logan Airport, likely to confirm that the attacks are ready to begin.

7:40 a.m.

All five hijackers are aboard Flight 11, scheduled to depart at 7:45 a.m. Atta sits in business class seat 8D, with al-Omari in 8G and Suqami in 10B. Waleed and Wail al-Shehri sit in first-class seats 2B and 2A.

7:59 a.m.

Flight 11 takes off from Boston Logan International Airport, beginning its takeoff roll from runway 4R.

8:15 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 175 takes off from Boston, also headed for Los Angeles.

8:19 a.m.

A flight attendant on Flight 11, Betty Ann Ong, alerts ground personnel that a hijacking is underway and that the cockpit is unresponsive.

8:24 a.m.

Mohamed Atta, the hijacker piloting the plane, accidentally transmits a message meant for the passengers to Boston air traffic controllers, alerting them to the attack. He says, "We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you'll be okay. We are returning to the airport."

8:24:56 a.m.

Atta makes another announcement, saying, "Nobody move. Everything will be okay. If you try to make any moves, you'll endanger yourself and the airplane. Just stay quiet."

8:26 a.m.

After crossing the Massachusetts-New York border, the plane turns 100 degrees to the south, following the Hudson River towards New York City.

8:46 a.m.

Flight 11, with 92 passengers and crew on board, strikes the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. This marks the beginning of the September 11 attacks, the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history.

Other 9/11 flights

On the morning of September 11, 2001, four passenger flights were hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists as part of the September 11 attacks. American Airlines Flight 11 was the first flight to be hijacked, departing from Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts.

The other three flights hijacked on 9/11 were American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93, and United Airlines Flight 175. Flight 77 departed from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., bound for Los Angeles with 64 people on board, including 5 hijackers. Flight 93 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey, headed to San Francisco. The flight was delayed by more than 25 minutes due to heavy morning traffic. United Airlines Flight 175, which was hijacked shortly after Flight 11, took off from Boston Logan International Airport and made its last communication with air traffic controllers before hitting the South Tower at 9:03 am.

Flight attendants and passengers on board the flights showed courage and defiance in the face of adversity. Betty Ann Ong, a flight attendant on Flight 11, made a call to airline reservation agents in North Carolina, notifying authorities that the country was under attack. Daniel Lewin, a former Israeli military serviceman, is thought to have tried to stop the hijacking of Flight 11 and is believed to be the first victim of the 9/11 attacks. The passengers and crew of Flight 93 also demonstrated unity and bravery by working together to prevent the terrorists from reaching their intended target—the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

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