United Airlines Flight 93

United Airlines Flight 93
source
Occurrence type	Hijacking and crash
Date	September 11, 2001
Summary	Terrorist attack
Site	Shanksville, Pennsylvania, near Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Passengers	33
Fatalities	40
Aircraft type	Boeing 757
Operator	United Airlines
Tail number	N591UA
Origin	Newark International Airport
Destination	San Francisco International Airport

United Airlines Flight 93 was a domestic passenger airline flight that was hijacked by four al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001, as part of the September 11 attacks. The flight was operated by United Airlines using a Boeing 757 aircraft, registration N591UA, which departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey bound for San Francisco International Airport in California. The hijacking of the flight resulted in a crash in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, near Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing all 40 passengers and crew members on board, as well as the hijackers. The events of that day were also linked to the World Trade Center attacks in New York City and the Pentagon attack in Arlington, Virginia.

● Introduction

The story of the flight is closely tied to the events of September 11, 2001, which included the hijacking of three other planes: American Airlines Flight 11, American Airlines Flight 77, and United Airlines Flight 175. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) played key roles in responding to the hijackings, with assistance from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The United States Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were also involved in the response and subsequent investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the 9/11 Commission conducted investigations into the crashes, including the one involving United Airlines Flight 93.

● Background

The Boeing 757 aircraft, registration N591UA, was a narrow-body aircraft with a capacity for 182 passengers, operated by United Airlines. The flight departed from Newark International Airport at 8:42 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at San Francisco International Airport at 11:26 a.m. Pacific Time. The flight crew consisted of Captain Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer, while the cabin crew included flight attendants Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, and Deborah Welsh. The passengers included Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick, who would later play key roles in the events that unfolded. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were established in response to the September 11 attacks.

● Hijacking and Crash

At 9:28 a.m., the hijackers, led by Ziad Jarrah, seized control of the aircraft, and a struggle ensued between the hijackers and the passengers. The passengers, who had learned about the World Trade Center attacks through phone calls, attempted to regain control of the plane. The hijackers intentionally crashed the plane into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, near Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. The crash was witnessed by several people, including Valerie McClatchey, who was driving nearby. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross responded to the crash site, providing assistance to the families of the victims. The Pentagon and the White House were also involved in the response to the September 11 attacks.

● Passengers and Crew

The passengers on board the flight included Todd Beamer, who famously uttered the phrase "Let's roll!" as the passengers prepared to confront the hijackers. Other notable passengers included Mark Bingham, a San Francisco resident who was a University of California, Berkeley graduate, and Tom Burnett, a Bloomington, Minnesota resident who worked for Thoratec Corporation. The crew members, including Captain Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer, were experienced pilots with thousands of hours of flight time. The passengers and crew were from diverse backgrounds, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. The National Park Service and the Somerset County, Pennsylvania government were involved in the creation of a memorial to the victims.

● Aftermath and Investigation

The crash of the flight was part of a larger investigation into the September 11 attacks, which was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the 9/11 Commission. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the crash, which included analyzing the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) also played key roles in the investigation, which involved analyzing intelligence gathered before and after the attacks. The United States Congress and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence conducted hearings and investigations into the September 11 attacks.

● Memorial and Legacy

The Flight 93 National Memorial was dedicated on September 10, 2011, to honor the passengers and crew members who died in the crash. The memorial, which is located in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, features a Wall of Names and a Tower of Voices, which includes 40 wind chimes, one for each of the passengers and crew members. The National Park Foundation and the Somerset County, Pennsylvania government were involved in the creation of the memorial. The September 11 attacks led to significant changes in aviation security, including the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Patriot Act and the USA Freedom Act were also passed in response to the September 11 attacks. The World Trade Center and the Pentagon were rebuilt, and memorials were created to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks. Category:Aviation accidents and incidents