Editing United Airlines Flight 93 (section)

==Flight==
The aircraft involved in the hijacking was a [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-222]], [[Aircraft registration|registration]] {{Airreg|N|591UA| delivered to United Airlines in 1996.}}<ref name="ntsb-fps">{{cite web |url=https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=478665 |format=PDF |title=National Transportation Safety Board: Flight Path Study – United Airlines Flight 93 |date=February 19, 2002 |publisher=[[Homeland Security Digital Library]] |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706145829/https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=478665 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hijacking description |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010911-2 |publisher=[[Aviation Safety Network]] |access-date=April 24, 2011 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103195816/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010911-2 |url-status=live}}</ref> The airplane had a capacity of 182 passengers; the September 11 flight carried 37 passengers, including the four terrorists, and seven crew members, a load factor of 20 percent, considerably below the 52 percent average Tuesday load factor for Flight{{spaces}}93.<ref name="9/11Commission">{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/9-11/staff-report.pdf |title=Staff Report – "We Have Some Planes": The Four Flights – a Chronology |publisher=[[9/11 Commission|National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States]] |access-date=September 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812073107/http://www.archives.gov/research/9-11/staff-report.pdf |archive-date=August 12, 2011}}</ref> The seven crew members were [[Pilot in command|Captain]] Jason Dahl (43), [[First Officer (civil aviation)|First Officer]] [[LeRoy Homer Jr.]] (36), [[flight attendant]]s Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, and [[purser]] Deborah Welsh.<ref>{{cite news |title=People killed in plane attacks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/11/victims-list.htm |date=September 25, 2001 |work=USA Today |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430193720/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/11/victims-list.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Boarding===
[[File:Flight 93 gate flag.jpg|thumb|A U.S. flag flies over Gate 17 of Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, departure gate of United{{spaces}}93.]]
At 5:01&nbsp;a.m. on the morning of September 11, Jarrah placed a cell phone call from Newark to [[Marwan al-Shehhi]], the hijacker pilot of [[United Airlines Flight&nbsp;175]], in Boston, which authorities believe was to confirm that the plan for the attacks was proceeding.<ref name="Mitchell">{{cite book |last=McMillan |first=Tom |date=2014 |title=Flight 93: The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage on 9/11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MXiFBAAAQBAJ&dq=Ziad+Jarrah+Marwan+Al+Shehhi+5:01+am+cell+phone+call&pg=PA64 |location=[[Lanham, Maryland]] |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1442232853 |access-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911040828/https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Flight_93/MXiFBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Ziad+Jarrah+Marwan+Al+Shehhi+5%3A01+am+cell+phone+call&pg=PA64&printsec=frontcover%3Dfalse |url-status=live}}{{rp|64}}</ref> While al-Shehhi is known to have also communicated with [[American Airlines Flight 11]] hijacker [[Mohamed Atta]] on the morning of the attacks for the same reason he spoke to Jarrah,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf |title=9/11 Commission Report |access-date=May 19, 2023 |page=18}}</ref> a similar correspondence did not take place between Jarrah and [[Hani Hanjour]], the hijacker pilot of [[American Airlines Flight 77]], with which the hijacking of Flight 93 was to be executed in tandem.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf |title=9/11 Commission Report |access-date=May 19, 2023 |page=50}}</ref> The four hijackers checked in for the flight between 07:03 and 07:39 Eastern Time.<ref name="Chap1">{{cite book |chapter='We Have Some Planes' |chapter-url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch1.htm |year=2004 |title=9/11 Commission Report |publisher=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |access-date=May 30, 2008 |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514052417/http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch1.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> At 07:03, Ghamdi checked in without any luggage while Nami checked in two bags.<ref name="9/11Commission"/> At 07:24, Haznawi checked in one bag and at 07:39, Jarrah checked in without any luggage. Haznawi was the only hijacker selected for extra scrutiny by the [[Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System]] (CAPPS).<ref name="Chap1"/> His checked bag underwent extra screening for explosives, with no extra scrutiny required by CAPPS at the passenger-security checkpoint.<ref name="Staff2">{{cite web |url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/staff_statements/staff_statement_3.pdf |title=The Aviation Security System and the 9/11 Attacks – Staff Statement No. 3 |work=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |access-date=June 22, 2008 |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528201527/http://www.9-11commission.gov/staff_statements/staff_statement_3.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> None of the security checkpoint personnel reported anything unusual about the hijackers.<ref name="9/11Commission"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Inside the mind of a terrorist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/aug/22/september11.alqaida |date=August 22, 2004 |work=The Guardian |access-date=June 22, 2008 |location=London |first=Ronan |last=Bennett |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913203325/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/aug/22/september11.alqaida |url-status=live}}</ref>

Haznawi and Ghamdi boarded the aircraft at 07:39 and sat in first class seats 6B and 3D respectively. Nami boarded one minute later and sat in first class seat 3C. Before boarding the plane, Jarrah made five telephone calls to Lebanon, one to France, and one to his girlfriend in Germany; he had sent a farewell letter the day before to say he loved her.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/september-11-2001-timeline.htm |title=September 11, 2001 Timeline |access-date=June 8, 2021 |archive-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331161545/https://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/september-11-2001-timeline.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vasagar |first1=Jeevan |title=9/11 hijacker made last 'I love you' call |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/20/september11.usa |access-date=6 March 2017 |date=20 November 2002 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202150529/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/nov/20/september11.usa |url-status=live}}</ref> He boarded at 07:48 and sat in seat 1B.<ref name="9/11Commission"/><ref name="Chap1"/> Many of those aboard Flight 93 would have had a view of the Twin Towers of the [[World Trade Center (1973-2001)|World Trade Center]] complex in New York City, located several miles away across the [[Hudson River]]. The aircraft was scheduled to depart at 08:00 and pushed back from gate A17 at 08:01.<ref name="Love">{{cite news |last=Pauley |first=Jane |title=No greater love |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14789502 |date=September 11, 2006 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804055544/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14789502 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It remained delayed on the ground until 08:42 because of heavy airport congestion.<ref name=Wald/>

===Hijack warnings issued===
The three other hijacked flights all departed within fifteen minutes of their scheduled times. By the time Flight{{spaces}}93 became airborne, Flight 11 was within four minutes of crashing into the North Tower and Flight 175 was being hijacked. The terrorists aboard Flight 77 had not yet made their move, but were nine minutes away from storming the cockpit.<ref name=Wald>{{cite news |last1=Wald |first1=Matthew L |first2=Kevin |last2=Sack |title=A Nation Challenged: The Tapes; 'We Have Some Planes,' Hijacker Said on Sept. 11 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE0D81F3FF935A25753C1A9679C8B63 |date=October 16, 2001 |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122204146/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/16/us/a-nation-challenged-the-tapes-we-have-some-planes-hijacker-said-on-sept-11.html |url-status=live}}</ref> By 09:02, less than a minute before Flight 175 hit the South Tower, Flight 93 reached its cruising altitude of {{convert|35000|ft|m}}.<ref name="ntsb-fps"/>

With the attacks unfolding, air traffic officials began issuing warnings through the [[Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System]] (ACARS). Ed Ballinger, the United [[flight dispatcher]], began sending text cockpit warnings to United Airlines flights at 09:19, sixteen minutes after Flight 175's impact. Ballinger was responsible for multiple flights, and he sent the message to Flight{{spaces}}93 at 09:23. Ballinger received a routine ACARS message from Flight{{spaces}}93 at 09:21.<ref name="9/11Commission"/> At 9:22, after learning of the events at the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], LeRoy Homer's wife, Melody Homer, had an ACARS message sent to her husband in the cockpit asking if he was all right.<ref name="Notes">{{cite book |chapter-url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Notes.htm |chapter=Notes |year=2004 |title=9/11 Commission Report |publisher=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |access-date=May 30, 2008 |archive-date=May 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530161252/http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Notes.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> At 09:24, Flight{{spaces}}93 received Ballinger's ACARS warning, "Beware any cockpit intrusion{{snd}}two a/c [aircraft] hit World Trade Center".<ref name="CNN1">{{cite news |title=Flight 93 hijacker: 'Shall we finish it off?' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/22/911.flight.93/index.html |date=July 23, 2004 |work=CNN |access-date=June 23, 2008 |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029170609/http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/22/911.flight.93/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> At 9:26, pilot Jason Dahl, apparently puzzled by the message, responded, "Ed, confirm latest mssg plz -- Jason".<ref name="CNN1"/> At 09:27:25, the flight crew responded to routine radio traffic from air traffic control. This was the last communication made by the flight crew before the plane was hijacked.<ref>{{cite web |title=Air Traffic Control Recording |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/foia/9_11/ATC_Report_UA93.pdf |date=December 21, 2001 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-date=October 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023121506/https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/foia/9_11/ATC_Report_UA93.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>