The HijackersThe Hijackers At around 7:15 a.m. At around 7:15 a.m.

hijackers Nawaf hijackers Nawaf Alhazmi (scan) gets Alhazmi (scan) gets searched, Khalid searched, Khalid Almihdhar (white), and Almihdhar (white), and Hani Hanjour (black) Hani Hanjour (black) board Flight 77.board Flight 77.

Though they exhibit Though they exhibit suspicious behavior and suspicious behavior and set off several metal set off several metal detectors, but they are detectors, but they are cleared to continue cleared to continue after a brief screening after a brief screening of their luggage.of their luggage.

The TakeoffThe Takeoff Flight 77 departed Flight 77 departed

from Dulles from Dulles International Airport International Airport almost ten minutes almost ten minutes late.late.

The plane contained The plane contained 58 passengers, four 58 passengers, four flight attendants, two flight attendants, two pilots, 10,000 gallons pilots, 10,000 gallons of fuel, and of fuel, and unfortunately three unfortunately three hijackers…hijackers…

The Last TransmissionThe Last Transmission

After nearly a half hour of flying the pilot After nearly a half hour of flying the pilot asked for clearance to fly higherasked for clearance to fly higher This would be the last transmission heard This would be the last transmission heard

from Flight 77from Flight 77 It is theorized that the plane was hijacked It is theorized that the plane was hijacked

shortly after this transmission because the shortly after this transmission because the pilot failed to respond to a routine pilot failed to respond to a routine instruction that he was given after this instruction that he was given after this transmission.transmission.

The HijackingThe Hijacking

Renee May and Barbara Renee May and Barbara Olsen made phone calls Olsen made phone calls reporting that the hijackers reporting that the hijackers gained control of the plane gained control of the plane using knives and box using knives and box cutters.cutters.

A few minutes later the A few minutes later the plane disappeared from plane disappeared from radar screens and began radar screens and began to veer off course heading to veer off course heading southwest.southwest.

The ReappearanceThe Reappearance

Almost eight minutes later Flight 77 Almost eight minutes later Flight 77 reappeared on radar screens, but it was reappeared on radar screens, but it was east of its last know position and was not east of its last know position and was not noticed when it reappeared.noticed when it reappeared.

American Airlines’ System Operations American Airlines’ System Operations Control now believed that Flight 77 had hit Control now believed that Flight 77 had hit one of the World Trade Centers, but they one of the World Trade Centers, but they were wrong…were wrong…

The Impact Flight 77 turned around in a

circle heading for the Pentagon.

A contract crew who had been doing renovations on the southwest perimeter of the Pentagon were informed of the attack on the World Trade centers and were advised to get out of the building.

Moments later at 9:37a.m., Flight 77 hit the west wall of the Pentagon.

It Could Have Been Worse…It Could Have Been Worse…

Ironically enough, the West side was the only Ironically enough, the West side was the only section of the Pentagon that had just been section of the Pentagon that had just been renovated and was near completion at the time renovated and was near completion at the time of the attack.of the attack. It was the only section with a sprinkler system and It was the only section with a sprinkler system and

had been reinforced with steel columns to protect it had been reinforced with steel columns to protect it from bomb blasts. from bomb blasts.

This section also had blast proof windowsThis section also had blast proof windows Because of these renovations only 800 people Because of these renovations only 800 people

were working in the affected area as opposed to were working in the affected area as opposed to the 4,500 who normally work in that section.the 4,500 who normally work in that section.

Photos

• Top: Hole caused by the impact.

• Bottom: Some windows stay intact even after the blast.

The Response

• Officer Mark Bright, a member of the Pentagon police force, saw the plane as it crashed into the Pentagon. He immediately jumped into his police car and was the first officer to arrive on the scene.

• Many other emergency personnel arrived at the scene minutes after the crash.

The Conspiracy

• Some believe that this attack was not an act of terrorism but an act of our own government.

• Some believe the explosion was caused by a missile fired from a military helicopter.– It is reported that a military helicopter was

hovering around the West side, and it quickly ducked back behind the building moments before the explosion.

More Suspicious Activity

• Moments after the plane crashed the FBI seized all of the surveillance tapes from surrounding gas stations and the nearby Sheraton hotel.

• They refused to release the tapes to the public until later. They eventually released a video that had been taken from one of the Pentagon surveillance cameras.– The tape had obviously been tampered with.

The CasualtiesThe Casualties

All 64 people on the plane were All 64 people on the plane were killed. One hundred-and-twenty-four killed. One hundred-and-twenty-four people working in the building were people working in the building were killed, and one other victim died in killed, and one other victim died in hospital several days later. hospital several days later.

Dedicated to all of those who Dedicated to all of those who perished in the September 11 perished in the September 11

attacks and their families.attacks and their families.