The Target

Where was Flight 93 heading after being hijacked?

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Flight 93 National Memorial

Significance:

Stop 2 of Story Tour

The United States Capital Building is believed to have been the hijacker’s target for Flight 93.On September 11, at 9:55 a.m., the hijacker pilot, Ziad Jarrah, dialed in the frequency for the navigational aid at Washington Reagan National Airport. This indicates that the attack was planned for the nation’s capital. Two possible Washington targets were discussed: the White House and the Capitol Building. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, Mohamed Atta, the leader of the September 11 plot and the hijacker pilot of Flight 11, met with Ramzi Binalshibh, a coordinator of the attacks, in Spain in July, 2001. At this meeting, Atta received Bin Laden’s final instructions. Atta understood that bin Ladin had interest in striking the White House, but Atta said he thought this target was too difficult to hit. Atta explained to Binalshibh his plan to have two of the planes hit the World Trade Center, one fly into the Pentagon, and one hit the Capitol Building. If any hijacker pilot could not reach his intended target, he was to crash the plane. SDuring the Zacarias Moussaoui trial in April 2006, evidence provided indicated that the Capitol Building was the most-likely target for Flight 93. There is also evidence that the date of the attack was chosen to coincide with the return of both the House and Senate to session after the summer break. First Lady Laura Bush was also on Capitol Hill that morning. The Prime Minister of Australia was scheduled to speak to the combined Congress on that day. Many government officials including possibly members of the Supreme Court and the Joint Chiefs of Staff might have been in attendance for such a session.  

• The Target

  
  

  The United States Capital Building is believed to have been the hijacker’s target for Flight 93.

  Date created:

  08/31/2024

  Audio Transcript

   The United States Capital Building is believed to have been the hijacker’s target for Flight 93.On September 11, at 9:55 a.m., the hijacker pilot, Ziad Jarrah, dialed in the frequency for the navigational aid at Washington Reagan National Airport. This indicates that the attack was planned for the nation’s capital. Two possible Washington targets were discussed: the White House and the Capitol Building. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, Mohamed Atta, the leader of the September 11 plot and the hijacker pilot of Flight 11, met with Ramzi Binalshibh, a coordinator of the attacks, in Spain in July, 2001. At this meeting, Atta received Bin Laden’s final instructions. Atta understood that bin Ladin had interest in striking the White House, but Atta said he thought this target was too difficult to hit. Atta explained to Binalshibh his plan to have two of the planes hit the World Trade Center, one fly into the Pentagon, and one hit the Capitol Building. If any hijacker pilot could not reach his intended target,  he was to crash the plane. During the Zacarias Moussaoui trial in April 2006, evidence provided  indicated that the Capitol Building was the most-likely target for Flight 93. There is also evidence that the date of the attack was chosen to coincide with the return of both the House and Senate to session after the summer break. First Lady Laura Bush was also on Capitol Hill that morning. The Prime Minister of Australia was scheduled to speak to the combined Congress on that day. Many government officials including possibly members of the Supreme Court and the Joint Chiefs of Staff might have been in attendance for such a session.