Hani Hanjour

Hani Hanjour, born on August 13, 1972, was a Saudi national who became infamously known as the hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 77 during the September 11 attacks in 2001. His journey began in 1991 when he first arrived in the United States to study English, but he returned to Saudi Arabia shortly after. In 1996, he returned to the U.S. to further his education and began taking flying lessons in Florida and Arizona, ultimately earning his commercial pilot certificate in 1999.

Despite his aspirations to work as a commercial pilot, Hanjour faced setbacks, including being turned down by a civil aviation school in Jeddah. In late 1999, he left his family under the pretense of seeking employment in the United Arab Emirates. His path took a dark turn when he was identified as a trained pilot at an Afghanistan training camp, where he was selected by key al-Qaeda figures to participate in the September 11 attacks.

Hanjour returned to the United States in December 2000, where he connected with fellow hijacker Nawaf al-Hazmi. The two moved to Arizona for refresher pilot training before relocating to Virginia and New Jersey, where Hanjour continued his flight training. By September 2, 2001, he was back in the Washington, D.C. area, preparing for the tragic events that would unfold.

On September 11, 2001, Hanjour boarded American Airlines Flight 77, taking control of the aircraft after his accomplices subdued the crew and passengers. He directed the plane into the Pentagon, resulting in the deaths of all sixty-four individuals on board and one hundred twenty-five people within the building. His actions that day marked a pivotal moment in history, forever altering the landscape of global security and terrorism.