Ahmed al-Nami
Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Nami | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date 'Asir Province, Saudi Arabia |
| Died | September 11, 2001 (aged 23) |
| Occupation(s) | Terrorist, hijacker |
| Known for | One of the four hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks |
Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Nami (; 7 December 1977 – 11 September 2001) was a Saudi national involved in terrorism and served as one of the four hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93. The aircraft ultimately crashed in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, following an uprising by passengers during the events of September 11.
Originating from Saudi Arabia, al-Nami previously acted as a muezzin and was enrolled in college before departing from his family in 2000 with the intention of performing the Hajj pilgrimage. Instead, he journeyed to an al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan, where he formed connections with other future hijackers and was chosen to participate in the attacks.
He entered the United States on a tourist visa in May 2001 and established residence in Florida. On September 11, al-Nami played a role in hijacking United Airlines Flight 93, which was targeted for the U.S. Capitol. The plane crashed as passengers made efforts to reclaim control after receiving reports of attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Al-Nami and Ahmed al-Haznawi are believed to have been responsible for carrying the suspected explosive device aboard Flight 93.
Early life and activities
Al-Nami was born within Saudi Arabia’s 'Asir Province and belonged to the Quraysh tribe. Around early 1999, he became deeply religious and served as a muezzin at the Seqeley mosque. In the summer of 2000, instead of completing the Hajj as planned, he traveled to Afghanistan’s Al Farouq training camp. There, he met Waleed and Wail al-Shehri along with Saeed al-Ghamdi. In spring 2000, this group committed themselves to jihad during a ceremony led by Wail al-Shehri, who adopted the name Abu Mossaeb al-Janubi. Al-Nami, who went by "Abu Hashim," was described as mild-mannered and reportedly experienced a dream compelling him to fight for his homeland.
During his training period, it was observed that al-Nami had recently undergone laser eye surgery.
In October 2000, al-Nami traveled with prospective hijacker Mushabib al-Hamlan to Saudi Arabia where they secured B-1/B-2 tourist visas; however, al-Hamlan later withdrew from participation. Initially, al-Nami identified himself as a student with plans to reside in Los Angeles but did not use that visa for U.S. entry. Instead, after reporting his passport lost, he obtained a replacement from Jeddah and acquired another B-1/B-2 visa there in April 2001 following an amended application.
By late 2000, it is probable that al-Nami and others journeyed from Saudi Arabia through Beirut into Iran and then Afghanistan without receiving passport stamps—likely utilizing "clean" passports obtained after briefly returning to Saudi Arabia.
While present in the United Arab Emirates, al-Nami purchased traveler’s cheques believed to be funded by Mustafa al-Hawsawi. Five additional hijackers also acquired traveler’s cheques there: Majed Moqed, Saeed al-Ghamdi, Hamza al-Ghamdi, Ahmed al-Haznawi, and Wail al-Shehri.
2001
In March 2001, Ahmed al-Nami appeared in an al-Qaeda farewell video alongside thirteen other "muscle hijackers" at their Kandahar training facility; he was shown studying maps and flight manuals.
On April 23, he secured a new U.S. visa.
On May 28, he arrived in the United States from Dubai accompanied by fellow hijackers Mohand al-Shehri and Hamza al-Ghamdi. By early June, al-Nami resided in apartment 1504 at the Delray Racquet Club condominiums in Delray Beach, Florida with Saeed al-Ghamdi and contacted his family back home in 'Asir shortly after his arrival.
His final phone call to family occurred in June.
He was among nine hijackers who opened SunTrust bank accounts with cash deposits around June 2001 and obtained a Florida State ID or driver’s license on June 29. His permanent address may have been listed as either Naval Air Station Pensacola or the Delray condominium.
On August 28, al-Nami and Ahmed al-Haznawi reportedly asked a local resident in Delray Beach to retrieve a towel from their balcony.
On September 5, al-Nami together with Saeed al-Ghamdi purchased tickets for a flight scheduled on September 7 to Newark Liberty International Airport through Mile High Travel, paying with cash. Ziad Jarrah and Ahmed al-Haznawi also bought tickets for that same flight via Passage Tours.
Finally, on September 7, all four hijackers of Flight 93 traveled from Fort Lauderdale to Newark International Airport aboard Spirit Airlines.
Attacks
On September 11, 2001, al-Nami reached Newark with al-Ghamdi, al-Haznawi, and Jarrah to board United Airlines Flight 93. Accounts differ regarding whether al-Haznawi was subjected to extra security screening; the lack of CCTV footage from that period makes confirmation difficult. Al-Nami took his seat in First Class at 3C, positioned beside al-Ghamdi, between 7:39 and 7:48 in the morning.
A standard delay in departure provided the crew with time to receive alerts about earlier hijackings. However, within two minutes of takeoff, Jarrah forced his way into the cockpit and overcame the pilots. Phone communications from passengers revealed that the hijackers wore red bandanas, and one individual claimed to be carrying an explosive device strapped to his body.
Aware of the ongoing attacks elsewhere, passengers quickly coordinated a counterattack aimed at regaining control of the cockpit. Ultimately, the aircraft crashed in a rural area of Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board.
Aftermath
- British actor Jamie Harding took on the role of al-Nami in the 2006 movie United 93, while Asim Wali portrayed him in Flight 93.
- The 2005 TV movie The Flight That Fought Back dramatizes the passenger uprising aboard Flight 93, with Raj Mann playing Ahmed al-Nami.