Hani Hanjour

Hani Hanjour. He was a Saudi Arabian citizen and one of the five hijacker-pilots involved in the September 11 attacks. Hanjour served as the pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, which he crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. His involvement was a central component of the broader al-Qaeda plot masterminded by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and approved by Osama bin Laden.

Early Life and Education

Hanjour was born in Ta'if, a city in the Makkah Province of Saudi Arabia, into a relatively affluent family. He reportedly developed an interest in aviation and the United States from a young age, traveling to Arizona in the early 1990s to study English. He began formal flight training in the U.S., initially at the Cochise College flight school in Arizona and later at other facilities in Florida and California. Despite these efforts, multiple instructors and evaluators noted his poor piloting skills, with one Federal Aviation Administration examiner even failing him on a check ride.

Hijacking of American Airlines Flight 77

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Hanjour boarded American Airlines Flight 77 at Washington Dulles International Airport. Once airborne, he and his four accomplices overpowered the flight crew, with Hanjour taking control of the Boeing 757 aircraft. He executed a difficult, descending turn over the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area before guiding the plane into the western facade of the Pentagon at approximately 9:37 a.m. The impact and resulting fire caused a partial collapse of the building, killing all 64 people on board and 125 personnel within the Department of Defense headquarters.

Preparations and Plot

Hanjour's recruitment into the al-Qaeda network is believed to have occurred in the late 1990s, possibly in Afghanistan. He was selected by plot coordinators, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and operational manager Mohamed Atta, specifically for his ability to operate large aircraft. In the years leading up to the attacks, he traveled between the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, often using visa waivers. In the U.S., he engaged in additional flight training, including simulator sessions for Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 aircraft, and conducted surveillance flights, notably casing the World Trade Center from a small plane. He formally entered the U.S. for the final time in December 2000 to join the Hamburg cell associates already in the country.

Death and Burial

Hanjour was killed instantly upon the impact of American Airlines Flight 77 with the Pentagon. The recovery and identification of remains from the crash site, handled by the Arlington County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was a protracted forensic process. Like the other hijackers, his remains were eventually released to the government of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government has stated the remains were buried in unmarked graves, though the specific locations have not been publicly disclosed, in accordance with the kingdom's policy for individuals involved in terrorist acts.

Controversy and Legacy

Hanjour's proficiency as a pilot has been a persistent subject of controversy and investigation, notably by the 9/11 Commission. The commission's report highlighted the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration and intelligence agencies to share information that might have flagged his activities. His ability to execute the final maneuver, despite earlier documented incompetence, raised questions about the extent of his training in Afghanistan. Hanjour's actions are memorialized, alongside those of the other hijackers, in the narrative of the September 11 attacks presented at sites like the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Pentagon Memorial, which focus on the victims. His role remains a case study in the failures of aviation security and intelligence coordination prior to the attacks.

Category:1972 births Category:2001 deaths Category:September 11 hijackers Category:Saudi Arabian terrorists