Page 350 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

S-Kushner.qxd 28-10-02 11:28 AM Page 330

330———September 11 Attacks

Firefighters, rescue workers, and engineers work at the Pentagon crash site on September 14, 2001.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense photograph by Tech. Sgt. Cedric H. Rudisill.

Flight 93 was the last flight to be hijacked and that handwritten letter instructing the hijackers on how to
worked against the terrorists. Several passengers on comport themselves. Copies of the letter were found
the flight had cell phones that they used to call family in a car registered to Nawaf al-Hamzi parked at Dulles
members and authorities, who told them what had Airport and in the wreckage of Flight 93.
happened to the other hijacked planes. Two passen-
gers told family members that the passengers had WAR ON TERRORISM
decided to attack the hijackers and attempt to retake
the plane. Soon after the attacks, U.S. president George W. Bush
At around 10:00 A.M., Flight 93 crashed into an declared a “war on terrorism,” warning countries that
empty field in western Pennsylvania. All 40 passen- harbored terrorists that they would face the full power
gers and crew were killed—but they did not act in of the U.S. military. The United States charged Al
vain. Unlike the other hijacked planes, Flight 93 Qaeda with responsibility and demanded that the
destroyed no buildings and caused no fatalities on the Taliban turn over bin Laden and the Al Qaeda leader-
ground. ship, and dismantle terrorist training camps in
All U.S. air traffic was ordered grounded; planes Afghanistan. The Taliban denied that bin Laden was
landed at the nearest airports and remained there. responsible. In October, the United States launched an
Thousands of passengers were stranded. The investi- attack on the Taliban and terrorists within Afghanistan;
gation began immediately. Officials at Boston’s its allies were Great Britain and anti-Taliban forces in
Logan Airport discovered that Atta’s luggage did not Afghanistan.
make it onto Flight 11. The luggage contained Atta’s The Taliban government quickly collapsed and
will, flight-instruction videotapes, and a five-page many Al Qaeda leaders, although apparently not