Editing Mohamed Atta (section)

== United States ==
On 22 March 2000, Atta was still in Germany when he sent an [[Email|e-mail]] to the Academy of Lakeland in [[Florida]]. He inquired about flight training, "Dear sir, we are a small group of young men from different Arab countries. Now, we are living in Germany since a while for study purposes. We would like to start training for the career of airline professional pilots. In this field, we haven't yet any knowledge but we are ready to undergo an intensive training program (up to [[Airline transport pilot licence|ATP]] and eventually higher)." Atta sent 50–60 similar e-mails to other [[Flight training|flight training schools]] in the United States.<ref name="moussaoui-march7">{{cite web |url=http://cryptome.org/usa-v-zm-030706-02.htm |title=Zacarias Moussauoi v. the United States (trial testimony) |date=7 March 2006 |access-date=16 September 2008 |publisher=Cryptome / United States District Court – Eastern District of Virginia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223174907/http://cryptome.org/usa-v-zm-030706-02.htm |archive-date=23 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 17 May Atta applied for a United States visa. The next day, he received a five-year [[B visa|B-1/B-2]] (tourist/business) visa from the [[Embassy of the United States, Berlin|United States embassy in Berlin]]. Atta had lived in Germany for approximately five years and also had a "strong record as a student". He was therefore treated favorably and not scrutinized.<ref name="travel">{{cite web |url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/staff_statements/911_TerrTrav_Monograph.pdf |title=9/11 and Terrorist Travel |work=Staff Report |publisher=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |year=2004 |access-date=26 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916110951/http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/staff_statements/911_TerrTrav_Monograph.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> After obtaining his visa, Atta took a bus on 2 June from Hamburg to [[Prague]] where he stayed overnight before traveling on to the United States the next day. Bin al-Shibh later explained that they believed it would contribute to operational security for Atta to fly out of Prague instead of Hamburg, where he traveled from previously. Likewise, Shehhi traveled from a different location, in his case via [[Brussels]].<ref name="911-ch7">{{cite book |author=9/11 Commission |chapter-url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch7.htm |title=9/11 Commission Report |chapter=Chapter 7 |date=June 2004 |publisher=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023214223/http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch7.htm |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Sfn|McDermott|2005|p=194}}

On 6 June 2002, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[ABC World News Tonight|World News Tonight]]'' broadcast an interview with Johnelle Bryant, former loan officer at the [[United States Department of Agriculture|U.S. Department of Agriculture]] in south Florida, who told about her encounter with Mohamed Atta. This encounter took place "around the third week of April to the third week of May of 2000", before Atta's official entry date into the United States (see below). According to Bryant, Atta wanted to finance the purchase of a crop-duster. "He wanted to finance a twin-engine, six-passenger aircraft and remove the seats," Bryant told ABC's ''World News Tonight''. He insisted that she write his name as ATTA, that he originally was from Egypt but had moved to Afghanistan, that he was an engineer and that his dream was to go to a flight school. He asked about [[the Pentagon]] and the [[White House]]. He said he wanted to visit the World Trade Center and asked Bryant about the security there. He mentioned Al Qaeda and said the organization "could use memberships from Americans". He mentioned Osama bin Laden and said "this man would someday be known as the world's greatest leader." Bryant said "the picture that came out in the newspaper, that's exactly what that man looked like."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130304&page=1|date=6 June 2002|access-date=10 August 2010|title=Transcript of Johnelle Bryant Interview|publisher=ABC News|location=United States |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131222652/https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130304&page=1|archive-date=31 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130305&page=1|date=6 June 2002|access-date=10 August 2010|title=Transcript: Bryant Interview, Part 2|publisher=ABC News|location=United States |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131220655/https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130305&page=1|archive-date=31 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Bryant contacted the authorities after recognising Atta in news reports.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2031563.stm|date=7 June 2002|access-date=10 August 2010|title=Twin towers hijacker 'sought US loan'|publisher=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102108/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2031563.stm|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Law enforcement officials said Bryant passed a lie-detector exam.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20020607/atta07/hijacker-tried-to-get-us-loan-to-buy-plane|date=7 June 2002|access-date=10 August 2010|title=Hijacker tried to get U.S. loan to buy plane|work=The Seattle Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004083900/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020607&slug=atta07|archive-date=4 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to official reports, Atta flew from Prague to [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark International Airport]], arriving on 3 June 2000. That month, Atta and Shehhi stayed in hotels and rented rooms in New York City on a short-term basis. Jarrah had arrived in the United States on 27 June 2000, after his flight landed at [[Newark, New Jersey]], and Jarrah had decided to go with Shehhi and Atta to search for different flight schools in the US. They continued to inquire about flight schools and personally visited some, including Airman Flight School in [[Norman, Oklahoma]], which they visited on 3 July 2000. Days later, Shehhi, Jarrah and Atta ended up in [[Venice, Florida]].<ref name="timeline"/> Atta and Shehhi established accounts at [[SunTrust Banks|SunTrust Bank]] and received wire transfers from [[Ammar al-Baluchi|Ali Abdul Aziz Ali]], Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's nephew in the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name="timeline"/><ref name="911-ch7"/> On 6 July 2000, Atta, Jarrah and Shehhi enrolled at [[Huffman Aviation]] in [[Venice, Florida|Venice]], where they entered the Accelerated Pilot Program.<ref name="timeline"/> When Atta and Shehhi arrived in Florida, they initially stayed with Huffman's bookkeeper and his wife in a spare room of their house. After a week, they were asked to leave because they were rude. Atta and Shehhi then moved into a small house nearby in [[Nokomis, Florida|Nokomis]] where they stayed for six months.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/100201/Floridian/The_terrorists_next_d.shtml |title=The terrorists next door |author=Allison, Wes |date=2 October 2001 |work=St. Petersburg Times |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930182654/http://www.sptimes.com/News/100201/Floridian/The_terrorists_next_d.shtml |archive-date=30 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Landlord: Steve Kona |author=Whittle, Patrick |date=10 September 2006 |work=Herald Tribune (Sarasota, Florida) |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20060910/NEWS/609100876/-1/MULTIMEDIA0201 |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930184836/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20060910/NEWS/609100876/-1/MULTIMEDIA0201 |archive-date=30 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Atta Huffman Personnel Folder 11A Page 26 (his FAA Temporary Airmen Certificate).jpg|thumb|Mohamed Atta's FAA Temporary Airman Certificate, issued December 21, 2000]]
Atta began flight training on 6 July 2000, and continued training nearly every day. By the end of July, both Atta and Shehhi did solo flights. Atta earned his private pilot certificate in September, and then he and Shehhi decided to switch flight schools. Both enrolled at Jones Aviation in [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]] and took training there for a brief time. They had problems following instructions and were both very upset when they failed their Stage 1 exam. They inquired about multi-engine planes and told the instructor that "they wanted to move quickly, because they had a job waiting in their country upon completion of their training in the U.S." In mid-October, Atta and Shehhi returned to Huffman Aviation to continue training. In November 2000, Atta earned his instrument rating, and then a commercial pilot's license in December from the [[Federal Aviation Administration]].<ref name="timeline"/>

Atta continued with flight training that included solo flights and simulator time. On 22 December, Atta and Shehhi applied to Eagle International for large jet and simulator training for [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] and [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]] models. On 26 December, Atta and Shehhi needed a tow for their rented [[Piper Cherokee]] on a taxiway of [[Miami International Airport]] after the engine shut down. On 29 and 30 December, Atta and Marwan went to the [[Opa-locka Airport]] where they practiced on a [[Boeing 727]] simulator, and they obtained [[Boeing 767]] simulator training from Pan Am International on 31 December. Atta purchased [[cockpit]] videos for [[Boeing 747#747-200|Boeing 747-200]], [[Boeing 757#757-200|Boeing 757-200]], [[Airbus A320]] and [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300ER]] models via mail-order from [[Clermont County Airport|Sporty's Pilot Shop]] in [[Batavia, Ohio]], in November and December 2000.<ref name="timeline"/>

Records on Atta's cellphone indicated that he phoned the [[Embassy of Morocco, Washington, D.C.|Moroccan embassy]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] on 2 January 2001, just before Shehhi flew to the country. Atta flew to Spain two days later, on 4 January, to coordinate with bin al-Shibh, and returned to the United States on 10 January. He then traveled to [[Lawrenceville, Georgia]], where he and Shehhi visited an LA Fitness Health Club. During that time Atta flew out of [[Gwinnett County Airport|Briscoe Field]] in Lawrenceville with a pilot, and Atta and either the pilot or Shehhi flew around the Atlanta area.
[[File:Mohamed Atta Drivers Licence.jpg|thumb|Mohamed Atta's Florida driver's license, which he received on 2 May 2001]]
On 11 April, Atta and Shehhi rented an apartment at 10001 Atlantic Blvd, Apt. 122 in [[Coral Springs, Florida]], for $840 per month,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coralsprings.com/frontpage2/attacoralsprings.htm |title=Terrorist amongst us |access-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207000314/http://www.coralsprings.com/frontpage2/attacoralsprings.htm |archive-date=7 February 2009}}</ref> and assisted with the arrival of the muscle hijackers. On 16 April, Atta was given a citation for not having a valid driver's license, and he began steps to acquire one. On 2 May, Atta received his driver's license in [[Lauderdale Lakes, Florida]]. While in the United States, Atta owned a red 1989 [[Pontiac Grand Prix]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/01/911/Florida__terror_s_lau.shtml |title=Florida: Terror's Launching Pad |work=The St. Petersburg Times |last=Tobin |first=Thomas C. |date=1 September 2002 |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |access-date=5 September 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020905151317/http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/01/911/Florida__terror_s_lau.shtml |archive-date=5 September 2002 }}</ref>
On 11 May, Atta visited Logan International Airport in Boston with another man, and took a lot of photographs and footage inside. Airport employees became suspicious of two persons and they alarmed security, but this was ignored. One technical worker complained about Atta's behavior and spoke to him, but did not stop him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sperry |first=Paul |date=2014-10-05 |title=Exclusive {{!}} 9/11 terrorists caught testing airport security months before attacks |url=https://nypost.com/2014/10/05/airport-security-ignored-pre-911-warnings-on-hijackers-court-docs/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 27 June, Atta flew from [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] to [[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]], where he spent a day, and then continued to [[San Francisco]] for a short time, and from there to [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]]. On 28 June, Atta arrived at [[McCarran International Airport]] in Las Vegas to meet with the three other pilots. He rented a [[Chevrolet Malibu]] from an [[Alamo Rent A Car]] agency. It is not known where he stayed that night, but on the 29th he registered at the Econo Lodge at 1150 South [[Las Vegas Boulevard]]. Here he presented an [[American Automobile Association|AAA]] membership for a discount, and paid cash for the $49.50/night room. During his trip to Las Vegas, he is thought to have used a video camera that he had rented from a Select Photo outlet back in [[Delray Beach, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Sep-29-Sat-2001/news/17113504.html |title=Algerian accused in Britain of training hijackers |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=29 November 2001 |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618104558/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Sep-29-Sat-2001/news/17113504.html |archive-date=18 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

FBI operative Elie Assaad became suspicious of Atta in early 2001 as he was supposedly seen with al-Qaeda fugitive [[Adnan Gulshair el Shukrijumah|Adnan Shukrijumah]].<ref name="ABC News">{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Brian |date=10 September 2009 |title=FBI Informant Says Agents Missed Chance to Stop 9/11 Ringleader Mohammed Atta |publisher=ABC News|location=United States |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Whistleblowers/911-ringleader-mohammed-atta-stopped-fbi-informant/story?id=8540605 |url-status=live |access-date=10 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234554/https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Whistleblowers/911-ringleader-mohammed-atta-stopped-fbi-informant/story?id=8540605 |archive-date=30 December 2013}}</ref>

=== July 2001 summit in Spain ===
In July 2001, Atta again left for [[Spain]] in order to meet with bin al-Shibh for the last time. On 7 July 2001, Atta flew on [[Swissair]] Flight 117 from Miami to [[Zürich]], where he had a [[Layover|stopover]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/notablecases/moussaoui/exhibits/prosecution/OG00013.pdf |title=Hijackers' True Name Usage |publisher=U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Virginia |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512160457/http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/notablecases/moussaoui/exhibits/prosecution/OG00013.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 8 July, Atta was recorded on surveillance video when he withdrew 1700 [[Swiss franc]]s from an [[Automated teller machine|ATM]]. He used his credit card to purchase two [[Swiss Army knife|Swiss Army knives]] and some chocolate in a shop at the [[Zurich Airport]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0110/20/cp.00.html |title=Investigating Terror |publisher=CNN|date=20 October 2001 |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930143429/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0110/20/cp.00.html |archive-date=30 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the stopover in Zürich, he arrived in Madrid at 4:45&nbsp;pm on Swissair Flight 656, and spent several hours at the airport. Then at 8:50&nbsp;pm, he checked into the Hotel Diana Cazadora in [[Madrid–Barajas Airport|Barajas]], a town near the airport. That night and twice the next morning, he called Bashar Ahmad Ali Musleh, a Jordanian student in Hamburg who served as a liaison for bin al-Shibh.<ref name="irujo">{{cite news |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Atta/recibio/Tarragona/joyas/miembros/comando/11-S/hiciesen/pasar/ricos/saudies/elpepiesp/20040321elpepinac_11/Tes/ |title=Atta recibió en Tarragona joyas para que los miembros del 'comando' del 11-S se hiciesen pasar por ricos saudíes |work=El País |date=21 March 2004 |author=Irujo, José María |access-date=16 September 2008 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520112621/http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Atta/recibio/Tarragona/joyas/miembros/comando/11-S/hiciesen/pasar/ricos/saudies/elpepiesp/20040321elpepinac_11/Tes |archive-date=20 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On the morning of 9 July, Mohamed Atta rented a silver [[Hyundai Accent]], which he booked from SIXT Rent-A-Car for 9 to 16 July, and later extended to the 19th.<ref name="irujo"/><ref name="stip">{{cite web |url=http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/notablecases/moussaoui/exhibits/prosecution/ST00001A.pdf |title=Stipulation |publisher=U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Virginia |access-date=27 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513193219/http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/notablecases/moussaoui/exhibits/prosecution/ST00001A.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He drove east out of Madrid towards the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] beach area of [[Tarragona]]. On the way, Atta stopped in [[Reus Airport|Reus]] to pick up Ramzi bin al-Shibh at the airport. They drove to [[Cambrils]], where they spent a night at the Hotel Monica. They checked out the next morning, and spent the next few days at an unknown location in Tarragona.<ref name="irujo"/> The absence of other hotel stays, signed receipts or credit card stubs has led investigators to believe that the men may have met in a safe house provided by other al-Qaeda operatives in [[Spain]]. There, Atta and bin al-Shibh held a meeting to complete the planning of the attacks. Several clues have been found to link their stay in Spain to Syrian-born [[Abu Dahdah|Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas]] (Abu Dahdah), and Amer el Azizi, a Moroccan in Spain. They may have helped arrange and host the meeting in Tarragona.<ref name="madrid">{{cite news |title=War Without Borders – The Madrid Bombing |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) |work=The Fifth Estate |date=1 December 2004 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/warwithoutborders/bombing.html |access-date=16 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202182629/http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/warwithoutborders/bombing.html |archive-date=2 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Yosri Fouda]], who interviewed bin al-Shibh and [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]] (KSM) before the arrest, believes that [[Said Bahaji]] and KSM may have also been present at the meeting. Spanish investigators have said that Marwan al-Shehhi and two others later joined the meeting. Bin al-Shibh would not discuss this meeting with Fouda.{{Sfn|Fouda|Fielding|2003|p=216}}

During the meetings in Spain, Atta and bin al-Shibh had coordinated the details of the attacks. The [[9/11 Commission]] obtained details about the meeting, based on interrogations of bin al-Shibh in the weeks after his arrest in September 2002. Bin al-Shibh explained that he passed along instructions from Osama bin Laden, including his desire for the attacks to be carried out as soon as possible. Bin Laden was concerned about having so many operatives in the United States. Atta confirmed that all the muscle hijackers had arrived in the United States, without any problems, but said that he needed five to six more weeks to work out details. Bin Laden also asked that other operatives not be informed of the specific date until the last minute. During the meeting, Atta and bin al-Shibh also decided on the targets to be hit, ruling out a strike on a [[nuclear power|nuclear plant]]. Bin al-Shibh passed along bin Laden's list of targets; bin Laden wanted the [[United States Capitol]], [[the Pentagon]], and the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] to be attacked, as they were deemed "symbols of America." If any of the hijackers could not reach their intended targets, Atta said, they were to crash the plane. They also discussed the personal difficulties Atta was having with fellow hijacker [[Ziad Jarrah]]. Bin al-Shibh was worried that Jarrah might even abandon the plan. The ''[[9/11 Commission Report]]'' speculated that the now-convicted terrorist conspirator [[Zacarias Moussaoui]] was being trained as a possible replacement for Jarrah.<ref name="travel"/><ref name="911-ch7"/>

From 13 to 16 July, Atta stayed at the Hotel Sant Jordi in Tarragona.<ref name="irujo"/><ref name="stip"/> After bin al-Shibh returned to Germany on 16 July 2001, Atta had three more days in Spain. He spent two nights in [[Salou]] at the beachside Casablanca Playa Hotel, then spent the last two nights at the Hotel Residencia Montsant.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E0DA1431F932A35756C0A9649C8B63 |title=Search for 11 Sept. Suspect Focuses on a Visit to Spain |work=The New York Times |date=1 May 2002 |author=Frantz, Douglas |access-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204182951/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E0DA1431F932A35756C0A9649C8B63 |archive-date=4 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 July, Atta returned to the United States, flying on [[Delta Air Lines]] from Madrid to Fort Lauderdale, via [[Atlanta]].<ref name="stip"/>

=== Final plans in the U.S. ===
On 22 July 2001, Atta rented a [[Mitsubishi Galant]] from [[Alamo Rent a Car]], putting {{convert|3836|mile|km}} on the vehicle before returning it on 26 July.<!-- return date is unclear; payment was made on 5 August, NCIC query on the vehicle on 3 August //--> On 25 July, Atta dropped Ziad Jarrah off at [[Miami International Airport]] for a flight back to Germany. On 26 July, Atta traveled via [[Continental Airlines]] to [[Newark, New Jersey]], checked into the Kings Inn Hotel in [[Wayne, New Jersey]], and stayed there until 30 July when he took a flight from Newark back to Fort Lauderdale.<ref name="timeline"/>

On 4 August, Atta is believed to have been at [[Orlando International Airport]] waiting to pick up suspected "20th Hijacker" [[Mohammed al-Qahtani]] from [[Dubai]], who ended up being held by immigration as "suspicious." Atta was believed to have used a payphone at the airport to phone a number "linked to al-Qaeda" after Qahtani was denied entry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.hijackers27jan27,0,3333483.story |title=Sept. 11 hijacker raised suspicions at border |author=Sullivan, Laura |date=27 January 2004 |work=Baltimore Sun |access-date=16 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193334/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.hijackers27jan27%2C0%2C3333483.story |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>

On 6 August, Atta and Shehhi rented a white, four-door 1995 [[Ford Escort (North America)|Ford Escort]] from Warrick's Rent-A-Car, which was returned on 13 August. On 6 August, Atta booked a flight on [[Spirit Airlines]] from Fort Lauderdale to Newark, leaving on 7 August and returning on 9 August. The reservation was not used and canceled on 9 August with the reason "Family Medical Emergency". Instead, he went to Central Office & Travel in [[Pompano Beach, Florida|Pompano Beach]] to purchase a ticket for a flight to Newark, leaving on the evening of 7 August and scheduled to return in the evening on 9 August. Atta did not take the return flight. On 7 August, Atta checked into the Wayne Inn in [[Wayne, New Jersey]] and checked out on 9 August. The same day, he booked a one-way first-class ticket via the Internet on America West Flight 244 from [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]] <!-- or Dulles? //-->to Las Vegas.<ref name="timeline"/> Atta traveled twice to Las Vegas on "surveillance flights" rehearsing how the 9/11 attacks would be carried out. Other hijackers traveled to Las Vegas at different times in the summer of 2001.

Throughout the summer, Atta met with [[Nawaf al-Hazmi]] to discuss the status of the operation on a monthly basis.<ref name="lats">Los Angeles Times, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-27-na-intel27-story.html Document links al Qaeda paymaster, 9/11 plotter], 27 September 2002</ref>

On 23 August, Atta's [[driver’s license|driver license]] was revoked [[trial in absentia|''in absentia'']] after he failed to show up in [[traffic court]] to answer the earlier citation for driving without a license.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newsmine.org/archive/9-11/flight-schools/hijackers-traced-to-huffman-aviation.txt|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228121415/http://newsmine.org/archive/9-11/flight-schools/hijackers-traced-to-huffman-aviation.txt|url-status=dead|title=NewsMine.org – hijackers traced to huffman aviation.txt|archivedate=28 December 2005}}</ref><!--{{Dubious|date=November 2008}} Newsmine is a dubious source. //--><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ross |first1=Brian |title=While America Slept: The True Story of 9/11 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ten-years-ago-today-countdown-911/story?id=14191671 |publisher=ABC News|location=United States |date=29 July 2011|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> The same day, the [[Mossad]] gave his name to the CIA as one of 19 belonging to US residents suspected of planning an imminent attack against the United States; only four of the names are publicly known, the others belonging to fellow 9/11 hijackers Marwan al-Shehhi, Nawaf al-Hazmi, and Khalid al-Mihdhar. It is not known if the 19 names were all those of the hijackers who would carry out the 9/11 attacks or if the list length is just a coincidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/context.jsp?item=a082301mossad |others=23 August 2001: Mossad Reportedly Gives CIA List of Terrorist Living in US; at Least Four 9/11 Hijackers Named |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031428/http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/context.jsp?item=a082301mossad |archive-date=30 September 2007 |title=Context of 'August 23, 2001: Mossad Reportedly Gives CIA List of Terrorist Living in US; at Least Four 9/11 Hijackers Named' |work=History Commons}}</ref>