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United Airlines Flight 93

United Airlines Flight 93 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight hijacked on September 11, 2001, as part of the al-Qaeda attacks in the United States.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

United Airlines Flight 93 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight hijacked on September 11, 2001, as part of the al-Qaeda attacks in the United States. After passengers and crew attempted to retake the aircraft, it crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people aboard. It is widely remembered as the only hijacked plane that day that did not reach its intended target.

September 11 hijacking

United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked shortly after departure from Newark on the morning of September 11, 2001. The hijacking was part of the coordinated al-Qaeda attacks against the United States.

Passengers' resistance

After learning of the other attacks, passengers and crew used phone calls to understand the situation and attempted to storm the cockpit. Accounts of the struggle come from recovered recordings and official investigations.

Crash near Shanksville

The aircraft crashed in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at about 10:03 a.m. The crash killed everyone on board and prevented the aircraft from reaching its suspected target.

Memorial and legacy

The Flight 93 National Memorial was established near the crash site to honour those who died aboard the flight. Flight 93 has also become a major symbol of resistance during the September 11 attacks.

Key facts

  • Flight 93 was one of four commercial airliners hijacked during the September 11 attacks.
  • The aircraft departed Newark International Airport and was scheduled to land at San Francisco International Airport.
  • Hijackers seized control of the plane and turned it toward Washington, D.C.
  • Passengers and crew attempted to retake the aircraft after learning of the earlier attacks.
  • The plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at about 10:03 a.m., killing all 44 people aboard.
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Canadian context

Flight 93 is studied in Canada as part of the September 11 attacks and their global security, aviation, and foreign-policy impacts. Canadian readers may also know it through memorial coverage, documentary films, and broader 9/11 commemoration.

Frequently asked questions

What was United Airlines Flight 93?
It was a United Airlines passenger flight from Newark to San Francisco that was hijacked on September 11, 2001, during the al-Qaeda attacks in the United States.
Where did Flight 93 crash?
It crashed in a field near Shanksville in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in Stonycreek Township.
How many people died on Flight 93?
All 44 people aboard were killed, including passengers, crew, and the four hijackers.
What was Flight 93's intended target?
The exact intended target is not definitively proven, but sources commonly state that the hijackers were steering it toward Washington, D.C., and may have intended a major government landmark.
Why is Flight 93 significant?
It is remembered because passengers and crew resisted the hijackers, and the plane did not reach its target. That resistance became one of the most widely recognized moments of the September 11 attacks.

References

  1. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/flight93story.htm
    Supports: Crash location, deaths on board, and overview of the flight's role in the September 11 attacks.
  2. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/frequently-asked-questions.htm
    Supports: Departure airport, scheduled destination, hijacking sequence, crash time, and crash site.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/question/What-happened-on-United-Airlines-flight-93
    Supports: Hijacking timeline, passenger resistance, crash time, and likely target direction.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_93
    Supports: Aircraft type, route, number of people aboard, and crash details.
  5. CBS News — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-look-at-united-flight-93-ten-years-later/
    Supports: Recovered recordings and investigative details about the crash and cockpit struggle.
  6. Federal Bureau of Investigation — https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/investigation-of-flight-93.mp4/view
    Supports: Investigation overview and official description of passenger action aboard the flight.
  7. HISTORY — https://www.history.com/articles/flight-93-target-september-11
    Supports: Likely intended target in Washington, D.C., and the flight's final turn toward the capital.
  8. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/us/flight-93-national-memorial-fast-facts
    Supports: Flight 93 National Memorial overview and commemorative significance.