Mapping the Road to 9/11: Key Events 25 Years Ago
The Road to September 11: Preparations Unfold
Newsweek’s series traces the events leading up to the 9/11 attacks, capturing the movements of al-Qaeda operatives day by day.
Setting the Date: August 25, 2001
On this day, Mohammed Atta set the date for the attacks. At 2:12 p.m., he accessed his Travelocity account.
He searched for flights from Washington Dulles and Boston to Los Angeles, set for the morning of September 11. Two main factors influenced the choice of date: Labor Day had passed, meaning Americans and the George W. Bush administration would be back at work, increasing casualties. It was also a Tuesday, when flights are less crowded, reducing potential resistance from passengers.
Final Preparations: Booking Flights
At 2:43 p.m., Atta created an American Airlines ‘AAdvantage’ profile (#6H26L04). He reserved a business class seat on Flight 11, departing Boston at 7:45 a.m.
Atta’s meticulous planning involved months of test flights, assessing Boeing 767-223ER aircraft and analyzing airline boarding and security procedures.
Three days later, he coordinated with fellow hijacker pilots and finalized reservations. Atta paid for flights using his VISA card for both himself and A. al-Omari.
On August 26, Waleed and Wail al-Shehri booked tickets for the same flight. Wail used a debit card by phone, while Waleed purchased online.
These brothers arrived in the U.S. from Saudi Arabia in April 2001, aligning with Atta’s team. They selected seats 2A and 2B in first class. Al-Omari took seat 8G; al-Suqami selected seat 10B in Business Class. Atta chose seat 8D.
Security Gaps: Domestic Flight Challenges
At the time, domestic flights lacked a system for intelligence agencies to flag reservations.
None of the hijackers were on international watchlists, which might have alerted authorities upon booking.
The responsibility to identify domestic hijackers fell largely to the check-in staff, security personnel, and gate attendants.
Upcoming developments reveal additional preparations by Marwan al-Shehhi and Mohammed Atta, including shopping trips and lodging arrangements.