United Airlines Flight 93

United Airlines Flight 93

Company type	Scheduled domestic passenger flight
Industry	Air transportation
Headquarters	Newark, New Jersey , United States
Products	Passenger air transport

United Airlines Flight 93 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight that was seized by four al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001, as part of the coordinated September 11 attacks. The hijackers aimed to crash the aircraft into a federal government facility in Washington, D.C. Their plan was thwarted when passengers mounted a counterattack, causing the terrorists to crash the plane in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, thereby averting their target but resulting in the deaths of everyone on board. The Boeing 757-200 operated by United Airlines carried 44 passengers and crew on its regular morning route from Newark International Airport, New Jersey, to San Francisco International Airport, California—distinct as the only hijacked flight that day not headed for Los Angeles.

Approximately forty-six minutes after takeoff, the hijackers killed a passenger, took control of the cockpit, and engaged in a struggle with the flight crew while air traffic controllers monitored the situation. Ziad Jarrah, who had pilot training, assumed command and redirected the aircraft toward the East Coast. According to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, their intended target was the U.S. Capitol Building.

The flight departed 42 minutes late at 08:42. The hijackers waited for 46 minutes before initiating their assault, providing time for passengers to become aware of prior suicide attacks on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. By 9:57 a.m., just 29 minutes after the hijacking began, passengers resolved to resist. During the confrontation that followed, the plane crashed near a reclaimed mining area in Stonycreek Township, roughly 65 miles southeast of Pittsburgh and about 130 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. The crash was observed from the ground and reported within an hour.

Flight 93 was the fourth and final airliner seized on September 11 and uniquely did not reach its designated target. Its hijacking occurred in coordination with American Airlines Flight 77, which had struck the Pentagon less than 26 minutes earlier. Shortly after the crash, a temporary memorial was established near the site; later, construction of the permanent Flight 93 National Memorial was completed and dedicated on September 10, 2011. A visitor center made of concrete and glass overlooking the crash location opened four years afterward.

Hijackers

The seizure of Flight 93 was orchestrated by Ziad Jarrah, an al-Qaeda operative. Born into an affluent Lebanese family, Jarrah relocated to Germany in 1996 to study German at the University of Greifswald before pursuing aeronautical engineering at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. While in Hamburg, he embraced devout Islamic beliefs and joined the radical Hamburg cell.

In late 1999, Jarrah spent three months in Afghanistan and met Osama bin Laden in January 2000. Upon returning to Hamburg, he acquired a new passport without any travel stamps by claiming his original document was lost or stolen. In May 2000, Jarrah secured a U.S. visa in Berlin and arrived in Florida the following month to begin flight training alongside hand-to-hand combat lessons. He maintained communication with his girlfriend in Germany as well as his family in Lebanon prior to the attacks. This ongoing contact reportedly concerned plot leader Mohamed Atta, who considered replacing Jarrah with Zacarias Moussaoui if deemed necessary.

Accompanying Jarrah on Flight 93 were three "muscle" hijackers: Ahmed al-Nami, who entered Miami on May 28, 2001; Ahmed al-Haznawi, arriving June 8; and Saeed al-Ghamdi, who arrived June 27 in Orlando. Passports belonging to Jarrah and Saeed al-Ghamdi were recovered at the crash location. Jarrah’s family insisted he was an "innocent passenger."

Al-Qaeda had planned for four teams of five hijackers each for these attacks; however, only nineteen individuals participated on September 11. The absent twentieth hijacker is believed to have been Mohammed al-Qahtani, who was refused entry into the United States after arriving from Dubai in August 2001 due to suspicions regarding his intentions and limited financial resources. He was subsequently deported back to Saudi Arabia.

Flight

The aircraft seized was a Boeing 757-222, bearing the registration N591UA, which United Airlines received in 1996. Designed to accommodate 182 passengers, Flight 93 on September 11 carried a total of 37 passengers—including four hijackers—and seven crew members, resulting in a load factor of about 20%, significantly lower than the usual 52% average for this route. The flight crew consisted of Captain Jason Dahl (aged 43), First Officer LeRoy Homer Jr. (36), along with flight attendants Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, and purser Deborah Welsh.

Boarding

At 5:01 a.m. on September 11, hijacker Ziad Jarrah contacted Marwan al-Shehhi, who was the pilot of United Airlines Flight 175, likely to confirm synchronization of their planned attacks. The four hijackers completed check-in between 7:03 and 7:39 a.m. Eastern Time. Ghamdi and Nami were the first to check in—Ghamdi without any luggage, while Nami had two bags—followed by Haznawi with one bag and Jarrah without any baggage. Haznawi’s luggage underwent additional screening under the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS), yet none of the hijackers raised suspicion during security inspections.

Haznawi and Ghamdi boarded at 7:39 a.m., occupying first-class seats 6B and 3D respectively; Nami boarded shortly after at 7:40 a.m., seated in 3C. Prior to boarding at 7:48 a.m., Jarrah placed several calls to Lebanon, France, and to his girlfriend in Germany, to whom he had sent a farewell letter the previous day. He took seat 1B. Flight 93 was scheduled for an 8:00 a.m. departure and pushed back from gate A17 at 8:01 but experienced a delay until 8:42 due to heavy congestion at the airport. Passengers would have been able to see New York City’s World Trade Center towers several miles away across the Hudson River.

Hijack warnings issued

The other three flights that were hijacked all departed within fifteen minutes of their planned times. By the time Flight 93 lifted off, Flight 11 was only four minutes from striking the North Tower, while Flight 175 was already being commandeered. The terrorists aboard Flight 77 had not yet initiated their attack but were approximately nine minutes away from breaching the cockpit. At around 09:02, just before Flight 175 collided with the South Tower, Flight 93 reached its cruising altitude.

As these events unfolded, air traffic controllers began sending alerts through the Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS). United flight dispatcher Ed Ballinger started transmitting cockpit warnings to United flights beginning at 09:19, sixteen minutes after Flight 175's impact. Managing multiple flights simultaneously, he sent a message to Flight 93 at 09:23 following a routine ACARS transmission from the flight at 09:21. At approximately 9:22, after receiving news about the World Trade Center attacks, LeRoy Homer’s wife arranged for an ACARS message to be sent to him in the cockpit. At 09:24, Flight 93 received Ballinger’s alert: "Beware any cockpit intrusiontwo a/c [aircraft] hit World Trade Center". At 09:26, pilot Jason Dahl replied with, "Ed, confirm latest mssg plz -- Jason". At 09:27:25, the crew responded to routine radio communication from air traffic control—marking their final contact before the hijacking commenced.

Hijacking

At 09:28, the cockpit was forcibly entered, by which time Flights 11 and 175 had already crashed into the World Trade Center, and Flight 77 was mere minutes from impacting the Pentagon. In contrast to other hijackers who acted swiftly after seat belt signs were turned off, those on Flight 93 waited approximately 46 minutes before launching their assault on the cockpit. Evidence indicates that the takeover began no later than 09:28:05, triggering a rapid descent of 685 feet within half a minute.

Cockpit transmissions and recordings

At 09:28:17, air traffic control (ATC) and pilots nearby overheard indistinct sounds resembling screams or a struggle. A male voice repeatedly issued mayday calls, warning, "We're all gonna die here!" This voice was later identified as First Officer LeRoy Homer. Flight 93 was unique among the hijacked planes in transmitting a distress signal, likely initiated by pilots who, aware of previous attacks and sensing a cockpit breach, used the microphone to alert ground controllers.

Authorities estimate that around this time, hijackers murdered passenger Mark Rothenberg, forced their way into the cockpit, and relocated passengers and crew toward the rear to prevent interference. The 9/11 Commission determined that hijacker Ziad Jarrah remained seated until control was secured before taking over flight operations out of passengers’ sight.

The cockpit voice recorder began capturing audio from 09:31:57 onward, documenting Jarrah announcing a bomb onboard and instructing passengers to stay seated. This announcement was mistakenly transmitted to Cleveland controllers instead of passengers—a similar communication error was made by Mohamed Atta on Flight 11. Controllers replied but received no intelligible response.

Recordings reveal moaning from an injured individual believed to be flight attendant Sandra Dahl amid hijackers shouting commands inside the cockpit. Dahl likely attempted to disrupt the hijackers by disengaging autopilot and changing radio frequencies, which caused Jarrah’s announcements to be sent to air traffic controllers rather than passengers. Background noises include a female flight attendant struggling with hijackers before being silenced. Jarrah programmed the autopilot eastward, climbing to an altitude of 40,700 feet, prompting controllers to reroute nearby aircraft.

At 09:39, shortly after Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, Jarrah declared intentions to return to the airport with demands and warned passengers to remain quiet. This marked Flight 93’s final communication. Hijackers may have been informed of earlier attacks through United Airlines messages alerting them about cockpit breaches.

The injured man’s moaning persisted while hijackers wrestled with autopilot controls between 09:40 and 09:42. They discussed a “green knob,” indicating difficulties managing flight instruments. At one point, they instructed someone to “bring the pilot back,” suggesting First Officer Homer might still have been alive. At 09:46, a United employee sent an ACARS message seeking confirmation that all was normal but did not receive a reply.

Passenger and crew phone calls

Beginning at approximately 09:30, passengers and crew started placing calls to family members and authorities using GTE airphones and cell phones. In total, there were 35 airphone calls and two cellular calls made during the hijacking. Twelve individuals—ten passengers and two crew members—successfully connected and provided vital information about the situation onboard.

Tom Burnett initiated several calls to his wife Deena starting at 09:30:32 from rows 24 and 25 despite being assigned seat 4. He reported that men claiming to possess a bomb had hijacked the plane and that a passenger had been stabbed and was likely deceased. Burnett learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center six minutes after the hijacking began and understood that the hijackers intended a suicide mission. He relayed this information to fellow passengers and helped coordinate plans for retaking control of the aircraft before concluding his final call with “Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.” A flight attendant attempted contact with United's maintenance facility at 09:32:29 but was unsuccessful.

It is believed that the passenger mentioned as murdered by Burnett was Mark Rothenberg—the only first-class passenger who did not make any calls following the hijacking. Rothenberg sat near hijacker Haznawi, who may have attacked him either as an intimidation tactic or because Rothenberg resisted.

Mark Bingham phoned his mother at 09:37:03 reporting that hijackers claimed possession of a bomb. Jeremy Glick called his wife at 09:37:41 describing three men with dark complexions wielding knives wearing red bandanas; he reported that passengers had voted to “rush” the hijackers. FAA controllers observed Flight 93 deviating from its course; its transponder was turned off shortly thereafter.

Passenger Lauren Grandcolas made multiple calls to her husband during the ordeal—seven calls over four minutes—before passing her phone to Marion Britton. Todd Beamer contacted his wife at 09:43:48 informing a GTE operator about the hijacking and stating that two presumed pilots were incapacitated. He described one hijacker wearing a red belt resembling an explosive device. When the plane sharply veered southward, Beamer briefly panicked but soon regained calm.

Flight attendant Linda Gronlund left a message mentioning “men with a bomb” at 09:46:05. CeeCee Lyles called her husband at 09:47:57 confirming the ongoing hijacking. Marion Britton reached out to friend Fred Fiumano at 09:49:12 expressing fear for their survival. Flight attendant Sandra Bradshaw phoned her husband at 09:50:04 mentioning she was heating water intending to throw it at hijackers. Passenger Honor Elizabeth Wainio called her stepmother at 09:53:43 before stating “They’re breaking into the cockpit.”

Hijacker Jarrah set navigation frequency for Reagan National Airport at 09:55:11 directing the aircraft toward Washington, D.C. Bradshaw reported increased passenger movement toward first class shortly before ending her call.

Beamer informed operator Lisa Jefferson that they planned to “jump” the hijacker carrying the bomb while reciting prayers with others on the line. His final words—“Are you ready? Okay. Let’s roll”—became emblematic of passenger resistance.

During these events, Flight 93 passed unusually close—within mere feet—to a NASA KC-135 aircraft returning from a microgravity mission, underscoring the extraordinary circumstances of that morning.

Passenger uprising

The uprising by passengers aboard Flight 93 commenced at 09:57 after they collectively decided to take action. As the hijackers reacted aggressively, the aircraft veered off its intended path toward Washington, D.C.

At 09:57:55, hijacker Jarrah detected signs of rebellion, inquiring, "Is there something? A fight?"

Edward Felt placed a 9-1-1 call from the rear lavatory at 09:58, alerting dispatcher John Shaw about the hijacking before the connection ended. Early claims that Felt reported explosions or smoke were not substantiated by Shaw or Felt’s wife after reviewing the call recording.

CeeCee Lyles also contacted her husband, describing passengers forcing their way into the cockpit. To disrupt the assault, Jarrah maneuvered the plane sharply left and right, instructing his fellow hijackers at 09:58:57 to "Hold from the inside." At 09:59:52, he further unsettled the cabin by pitching the nose up and down.

The cockpit voice recorder captured sounds of crashing, screaming, and shattering glass. Cries of pain indicated that a hijacker positioned outside the cockpit was under attack. Jarrah steadied the aircraft at 10:00:03 and asked whether they should "finish it off," but was instructed to hold off. He then resumed pitching motions.

A passenger shouted at 10:00:25, "In the cockpit! If we don't, we'll die!" Sixteen seconds later another voice yelled, "Roll it!", likely referring to using a food cart as a battering tool against the cockpit door.

Jarrah ceased aggressive maneuvers at 10:01:00 and twice recited the takbir before asking if they should crash the plane. Another hijacker consented. Despite this, passengers continued their efforts; at 10:02:17 a male voice urged, "Turn it up!" followed by hijackers shouting "Pull it down!" Jarrah screamed urgently, "Give it to me!" possibly demanding control of the yoke.

Approximately twenty minutes from Washington, D.C., the aircraft crashed into an uninhabited field in Stonycreek, Pennsylvania. The final entry on the voice recorder occurred at 10:03:09, with flight data ceasing at 10:03:10.

There remains debate among relatives and officials regarding whether passengers succeeded in breaching or entering the cockpit. The 9/11 Commission Report determined that hijackers maintained control but were on the verge of being overpowered. Many family members believe passengers broke through and killed at least one hijacker guarding the cockpit; audio evidence suggests a struggle for command of the yoke.

Vice President Dick Cheney, stationed in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, authorized shooting down Flight 93 but upon learning of its crash remarked, "I think an act of heroism just took place on that plane."

Crash

At 10:03:11, the aircraft struck a field close to Indian Lake and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, near a reclaimed coal strip mine known as the Diamond T. Mine, which is owned by PBS Coals and located in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County. The Boeing 757 had a portion of its fuel remaining, which ignited upon impact, producing a fireball that scorched a nearby hemlock forest. Approximately one-third of the plane’s wreckage, including the cockpit section, was dispersed across nearby woodland owned by the Lambert family and caused damage to Barry Hoover’s residence. The remainder of the aircraft embedded itself into soil moved for reclamation projects during the 1990s. The fuselage and wings fragmented as they penetrated the ground, while one engine came to rest in a catchment pond some distance from the main crash location.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the plane collided with the ground at an inverted angle of forty degrees nose-down. The collision formed a crater measuring several feet deep and wide. The coroner concluded that all passengers and crew alive at the moment of impact died instantly due to blunt-force trauma. Despite various media outlets reporting crash times of 10:06 or 10:10, comprehensive analysis involving radar data, infrared satellite imagery, air traffic control communications, and flight recorder information confirms an impact time of 10:03, consistent with findings from the 9/11 Commission.

The sole eyewitness to observe United 93 in flight immediately before crashing was Nevin Lambert, a resident of Stoney Creek, who saw the plane inverted in a steep 45-degree descent. Local witnesses Kelly Leverknight and Eric Peterson recounted hearing the aircraft and witnessing the subsequent explosion and fireball. Val McClatchey captured the only known photograph of the smoke plume from her property; additionally, a video recorded by Dave Berkebile from his yard about away surfaced in 2011.

Emergency personnel arrived shortly after 10:06. At 10:07, Cleveland Center controllers informed the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) about a bomb threat aboard and relayed the last known position—marking the military’s initial notification. Ballinger sent final ACARS transmissions to Flight 93 at 10:10 and 10:11, instructing no diversion to Washington, D.C. The FAA headquarters was notified of the crash at 10:13. NEADS then confirmed with Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center that Flight 93 had crashed.

By 10:37, CNN correspondent Aaron Brown reported unverified information regarding a downed plane in Pennsylvania; by 10:49 he confirmed a large aircraft had crashed near Somerset County Airport in western Pennsylvania but lacked further details. Early confusion led to incorrect reports suggesting a second hijacked plane was en route to the Pentagon following this incident.

Aftermath

Upon impact, Flight 93 disintegrated violently with most debris concentrated near the crater while lighter fragments scattered up to eight miles away. Human remains were discovered within an approximate 70-acre perimeter around the crash site. Somerset County coroner Wally Miller cataloged about 1,500 pieces of remains weighing roughly 600 pounds—approximately eight percent of total human tissue—while much was destroyed by the force of impact. By December 21, 2001, all passengers and crew were positively identified. Death certificates attributed victims’ deaths to homicide and hijackers’ deaths to suicide. Victims’ remains along with personal belongings were returned to their families; hijackers’ remains were handed over to the FBI for evidentiary purposes.

Investigators recovered a knife hidden inside a cigarette lighter as well as the flight data recorder on September 13; the cockpit voice recorder was found the following day. Initially, the FBI withheld public release of the voice recording but permitted family members to listen during a private session in April 2002. A transcript was made publicly available in 2006; however, as of June 2025, audio recordings remain unreleased due to ongoing investigations.

On September 19, 2001, passengers and crew (excluding hijackers) were nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal. Legislation introduced in 2006 culminated in awarding this honor on September 11, 2014. The medal bears inscriptions commemorating their heroic actions.

Beamer’s final phrase, "let’s roll," became widely recognized nationally as a symbol of courage. Newark International Airport was renamed Newark Liberty International Airport in tribute to heroes of 9/11. Flight 93 has been portrayed in films and documentaries such as The Flight That Fought Back, Flight 93, and United 93. A History Channel documentary titled I Missed Flight 93 aired in 2006.

Following the attacks, United Airlines retired flight numbers 93 and 175. In May 2011, these numbers were briefly reinstated via a Continental Airlines codeshare agreement but generated backlash from media outlets and labor unions. United Airlines issued an apology stating that this reinstatement was unintentional and would not continue.

Potential Targets

The precise objective of Flight 93 remains unconfirmed. Investigators generally agree that the United States Capitol was the most probable target. The hijackers encountered delays totaling 88 minutes, which significantly reduced the likelihood of casualties on the ground even if the aircraft had reached Washington, D.C. Following the Pentagon attack at 09:37, federal buildings were evacuated promptly, with both the Capitol and White House cleared 28 minutes before Flight 93’s earliest estimated arrival time of 10:13.

Prior to the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Osama bin Laden, and Mohammed Atef compiled a list of possible targets. Bin Laden’s focus was the destruction of the White House and Pentagon; Sheikh Mohammed prioritized the World Trade Center; all three conspirators sought to strike the Capitol. Bin Laden instructed 9/11 coordinator Ramzi bin al-Shibh to inform Mohamed Atta that he preferred targeting the White House over the Capitol. Atta consented to consider the White House as an option but retained the Capitol as a backup target. Ultimately, Atta indicated that Jarrah intended to attack the Capitol. Although Atta briefly contemplated a nuclear facility as a target, this idea was abandoned following opposition from other hijackers. Communications two days before the attacks suggested the White House was to be the primary target for the fourth hijacked plane, with the Capitol as a secondary option. Pilots were directed to crash their aircraft if they could not reach their designated targets.

In the aftermath of the attacks, there was speculation that Camp David might have been considered as a target. Testimonies from captured al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, along with post-9/11 interviews with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and bin al-Shibh, indicated Flight 93 was aimed at the Capitol. The 9/11 Commission Report credited the actions of passengers and crew with preventing damage to either the White House or Capitol. Additional testimony revealed that bin Laden favored striking the Capitol rather than the White House. Salim Hamdan, bin Laden’s driver, also confirmed knowledge that Flight 93’s intended target was indeed the Capitol.

Fighter Jet Response

Two F-16 pilots from the 121st Fighter Squadron of the D.C. Air National Guard, Marc Sasseville and Heather "Lucky" Penney, were scrambled in response to Flight 93. Due to a lack of armed jets available for immediate launch, their plan involved ramming the hijacked aircraft if necessary. However, they never intercepted Flight 93 and only learned about its crash several hours later.

Billy Hutchison, an Andrews Air Force Base pilot, claimed he had sighted Flight 93 and planned to disable it by firing training rounds before ramming it. This scenario was impossible since his squadron did not take off until 10:38—thirty-five minutes after Flight 93 had already crashed. When questioned by the 9/11 Commission about this false claim, Hutchison refused to provide an explanation.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) informed the 9/11 Commission that fighter jets would have intercepted Flight 93 prior to its arrival in Washington, D.C., but investigators found NORAD only became aware that Flight 93 was hijacked after it had crashed. The commission concluded that without passenger intervention, Flight 93 likely would have reached Washington by approximately 10:23. The 9/11 Commission Report also noted that fighters from NEADS pursued Delta Air Lines Flight 1989, mistakenly believing it had been hijacked. The commission determined that testimonies provided by NORAD and FAA officials contained inaccuracies.

Memorials

In the aftermath of the tragedy, impromptu memorials emerged at the crash location, inspiring organizations across the country to collect funds for a lasting tribute. The Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission was created in 2003 to guide the development of a permanent memorial design. A nationwide design contest received 1,011 entries, ultimately choosing "Crescent of Embrace" in 2005—a curved walkway bordered by red and sugar maple trees.

The proposed design encountered controversy related to its financing and symbolism. Republican Congressman Charles H. Taylor initially obstructed $10 million in federal funding. Despite claims from some critics that the crescent shape suggested Islamic symbolism, political efforts resulted in federal funding approval.

In 2009, private landowners sold property valued at $9.5 million for the memorial site. The white marble Wall of Names was unveiled on September 10, 2011, followed by the opening of a visitor center made of concrete and glass in 2015, which overlooks the crash area. The final commemorative feature, the "Tower of Voices," was dedicated in 2018.

CeeCee Lyles, a flight attendant aboard Flight 93, received recognition through a statue erected in Fort Pierce, Florida, becoming a prominent figure among national 9/11 memorials. In 2007, the section of U.S. Route 219 near the memorial was named Flight 93 Memorial Highway. At the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, victims from Flight 93 are honored on Panels S-67 and S-68 of the South Pool.

On the sixteenth anniversary of the crash, Vice President Mike Pence commended the bravery of the passengers for their life-saving actions. In June 2018, after exhaustive searches for personal belongings and remains were completed, remaining wreckage from Flight 93 that had been stored since the incident was interred at the memorial site.

Victims

The nationalities of passengers (excluding hijackers) and crew members were as follows:

Nationality	Passengers	Crew	Total
United States	30	7	37
Germany	1	0	1
Japan	1	0	1
New Zealand	1	0	1
Total	33	7	40

Further reading

• [for children]

External links

• United Airlines Flight #93 Cockpit Voice Recorder Transcript via CNN. (Archive)
• Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign (official site)