Fayez Banihammad
Fayez Banihammad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 March 1977 Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates |
| Died | 11 September 2001 (aged 24) |
| Occupation | al-Qaeda operative |
| Known for | Hijacker of United Airlines Flight 175 during the September 11 attacks |
Fayez Banihammad (March 19, 1977 – September 11, 2001) was an Emirati operative affiliated with al-Qaeda and one of the five hijackers on board United Airlines Flight 175, which was deliberately crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks.
In 1999, Banihammad departed from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia, where he joined al-Qaeda and established contact with Mustafa al-Hawsawi, who is believed to have provided financial support for the attacks. He entered the United States using a tourist visa and acquired his flight ticket on August 29, 2001. Flight 175 was scheduled to fly from Boston's Logan Airport to Los Angeles. On September 11, shortly after takeoff, Banihammad and other hijackers took control of the cockpit. The aircraft was then piloted by fellow Emirati Marwan al-Shehhi, who crashed it into the South Tower, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board.
Early life
Born Fayez Rashid Ahmed Hassan al-Qadi Banihammad on March 19, 1977, he was commonly known as Fayez Banihammad. He is said to have been the son of a school principal and raised in Khor Fakkan, UAE. Details about his childhood are scarce; FBI investigators referred to him as an 'anomaly'. Banihammad was married to a woman from Syria and fathered one child. Prior to his involvement with al-Qaeda, he may have been employed as an immigration officer within the UAE. FBI documentation also records his managerial position at Al Khatab Aluminum Company located in Khor Fakkan.
According to his family, Banihammad left the UAE in 1999 under the pretense of joining an Islamic relief organization but instead traveled to Saudi Arabia to affiliate with al-Qaeda. Following his departure, they maintained only a single phone conversation.
Background
The September 11 attacks were masterminded in 2001 by al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, involving nineteen hijackers targeting four distinct locations using commercial airliners. Three of these targets included the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The fourth intended target was believed to be the U.S Capitol Building, but passengers intervened, preventing its completion.
Banihammad was part of the group assigned to hijack the plane destined for the South Tower of the World Trade Center, alongside Ahmed al-Ghamdi, Hamza al-Ghamdi, Marwan al-Shehhi, and Mohand al-Shehri. Although sometimes described as playing a minor role, he was instrumental through his connection with Saudi financier Mustafa al-Hawsawi, alleged to have funded the operation. He had attended university for a year with al-Shehri and was one of two Emirati nationals involved in this attack team along with al-Shehhi. At the time of the attacks, Banihammad was 24 years old.
Planning
Banihammad obtained his tourist visa on June 18, 2001, making him one of three hijackers who received their visas later than the rest. According to Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, these three individuals were added operatives intended to enhance the likelihood of success. Prior to his arrival in the United States, Banihammad, together with al-Hawsawi, established bank accounts in the UAE, with al-Hawsawi assisting in the application process. He entrusted al-Hawsawi with $3,000 and granted him power of attorney over his account, allowing al-Hawsawi to oversee the funds and likely assume responsibilities as a financial coordinator. On June 25, a deposit of $30,000 was made into Banihammad’s account. He entered the U.S. on June 27 via Orlando after traveling from London and conducted Visa and ATM withdrawals from his UAE accounts.
During the planning phase, Banihammad probably lived in Florida, potentially sharing accommodations with al-Shehhi and Mohamed Atta at their Hollywood apartment. Reports indicate he undertook flight training alongside Atta in Florida. Although his pilot license listed an address of a flight school in Tulsa, that institution had no record of him; however, an individual with his name attended the Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. In July, he secured a post office box in Delray Beach and on August 29 purchased a first-class ticket (seat 2A) for United Airlines Flight 175 departing Boston for Los Angeles on September 11, coinciding with American Airlines Flight 11 on which Atta was a passenger.
In early September, al-Hawsawi received a Western Union transfer amounting to $26,000 from Atta, al-Shehhi, Waleed al-Shehri, and Banihammad. The FBI interpreted this as a refund of unused funds since the hijackers did not want to "die as thieves." Subsequently, al-Hawsawi used his power of attorney to clear Banihammad’s Dubai bank account.
Day of the attacks
On September 11, Banihammad and his associates completed check-in procedures for Flight 175, which was scheduled for an 8:00 a.m. departure. They carried knives and mace but were not subjected to screening by the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS). The group boarded between 7:23 and 7:28 a.m., with Banihammad occupying seat 2A. The flight had a total of 56 passengers and nine crew members onboard. While still on the Logan Airport tarmac, Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi confirmed their plan via cell phone communication. Flight 175 took off at 8:14 a.m. Between approximately 8:42 and 8:46 a.m., the hijackers likely forced entry into the cockpit and killed the pilots. One hijacker stabbed crew members and directed passengers to move to the rear of the aircraft. Shortly thereafter, al-Shehhi assumed control and changed course about five minutes later.
At 9:03 a.m., Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower at roughly 590 miles per hour, impacting floors 77 through 85. All 65 individuals aboard perished. Both Flights 11 and 175 inflicted critical damage on their targets, resulting in the collapse of both towers—the South Tower collapsing first at 9:59 a.m. The attack on the South Tower caused over 600 fatalities.
Aftermath
The FBI gathered information from Ahmed al-Hada—father-in-law to hijacker Khalid al-Mihdhar—that identified Banihammad as an Emirati national. He was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in Zacarias Moussaoui’s indictment.