American Airlines Flight 11

American Airlines Flight 11
MysidOriginal by the 9/11 commission · Public domain · source
Occurrence type	Hijacking and crash
Caption	The World Trade Center in New York City in 1981, where the plane crashed
Date	September 11, 2001
Site	North Tower, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City
Origin	Logan International Airport, Boston
Destination	Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles
Passengers	81
Crew	11
Fatalities	92
Aircraft type	Boeing 767
Operator	American Airlines
Registration	N334AA

American Airlines Flight 11 was a domestic passenger aircraft that was hi-jacked by al-Qaeda operatives on September 11, 2001, and intentionally crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City, as part of the September 11 attacks. The flight was operated by American Airlines using a Boeing 767-223ER aircraft, registered as N334AA, and was scheduled to fly from Logan International Airport in Boston to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. On board the flight were Mohamed Atta, Waleed al-Shehri, Wail al-Shehri, Abdulaziz al-Omari, and Satam al-Suqami, who were among the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks, which also included United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, and United Airlines Flight 93.

● Introduction

The events surrounding the hijacking and crash of the flight were part of a larger coordinated attack by al-Qaeda operatives, led by Osama bin Laden, which targeted the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. The crash of the flight into the North Tower caused significant damage and fires, which ultimately led to the collapse of the tower, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, including those of the passengers and crew on board the flight, as well as people in the surrounding area, including New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department personnel. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were involved in the investigation of the crash, which was also reviewed by the 9/11 Commission, established by President George W. Bush and the United States Congress.

● Background

The flight was operated by American Airlines as part of its regular schedule, with a crew consisting of Captain John Ogonowski and First Officer Thomas McGuinness, as well as nine flight attendants, including Barbara Arestegui, Jeffrey Collman, and Sara Low. The passengers on board the flight included David Angell, a Emmy Award-winning television producer, and Lynn Angell, his wife, as well as Myra Aronson, a United States Navy veteran. The flight departed from Logan International Airport at 7:59 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 11:35 a.m. Pacific Time. The flight was cleared for takeoff by air traffic control and climbed to an altitude of 35,000 feet, where it leveled off and continued on its scheduled route, passing over Albany, New York and Syracuse, New York.

● Hijacking and Crash

At 8:14 a.m., the flight was hijacked by the al-Qaeda operatives, who gained control of the cockpit and took control of the aircraft, turning it south towards New York City. The hijackers, who were trained at al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, used box cutters and other bladed weapons to subdue the passengers and crew, and then took control of the aircraft's controls, intentionally crashing it into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. The impact and subsequent fires caused significant damage to the tower, which collapsed at 10:28 a.m., resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, including those of the passengers and crew on board the flight, as well as people in the surrounding area, including New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department personnel. The crash was witnessed by thousands of people, including Rudolph Giuliani, the Mayor of New York City, and George Pataki, the Governor of New York.

● Aftermath

The aftermath of the crash was marked by a massive rescue effort, involving the New York City Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, and other emergency services, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. The crash site was also visited by President George W. Bush, who pledged support for the victims and their families, and Vice President Dick Cheney, who was evacuated to a secure location, along with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers. The Pentagon was also attacked on the same day, as part of the September 11 attacks, which resulted in the loss of 184 lives, including those of United States Army personnel and civilians. The World Trade Center site was later visited by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who paid their respects to the victims and their families.

● Investigation

The investigation into the crash was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Transportation Safety Board, with assistance from the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The investigation found that the hijackers were affiliated with al-Qaeda and had planned and coordinated the attacks from Afghanistan and other locations, including Pakistan and United Arab Emirates. The investigation also identified the hijackers, including Mohamed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi, who were among the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks. The 9/11 Commission was established by President George W. Bush and the United States Congress to investigate the attacks and make recommendations to prevent similar attacks in the future, and its report was released in 2004, providing a detailed account of the events surrounding the attacks.

● Legacy

The legacy of the flight and its crew is remembered at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which was dedicated in 2014, and features a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks, including those on board the flight. The flight is also remembered at the American Airlines Flight 11 Memorial, which was dedicated in 2002, and features a memorial to the crew and passengers of the flight. The World Trade Center site has been redeveloped, with the construction of One World Trade Center, which was completed in 2014, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which was dedicated in 2014. The Pentagon Memorial was also dedicated in 2008, to honor the victims of the Pentagon attack, and features a memorial to the 184 people who were killed in the attack. The United States Department of Homeland Security was established in response to the September 11 attacks, to coordinate and oversee national efforts to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks, and the USA PATRIOT Act was passed to expand the authority of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prevent terrorist activities.

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents