American Airlines flight 11


American Airlines flight 11 was one of four airplanes used in the September
11, 2001 Terrorist Attack; it was crashed into the North Tower of the World
Trade Center in New York City.

This American Airlines morning flight from Logan International Airport near
Boston, Massachusetts to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles,
California (BOS-LAX) was hijacked soon after take-off at 8:02 EDT on
September 11, 2001. At 8:46 AM EDT the Boeing 767 was deliberately crashed
into the north side of the north tower of the World Trade Center
approximately between the 94 and 98 floors. The plane was carrying 81
passengers (including the 5 hijackers) and 11 crew. The hijacker who crashed
the plane into the building is believed to be Mohammed Atta. All on board
along with many hundreds in the building were killed and the tower later collapsed.

Some information about what had happened on board was sent by stewardesses
on the plane. According to stewardesses Madeline Amy Sweeney and Betty Ong,
three people, two stewardesses and a first class passenger, were stabbed or
had their throats slashed by the hijackers. The first class area had been
sequestered by the surviving crew and the rest of the passengers had been
led to believe that a medical emergency was taking place in the first class
area. The hijackers also used some kind of air spray such as tear gas or
pepper spray to discourage entry into the first class area and the cockpit.

Although the impact itself caused extensive structural damage, it was the
burning jet fuel which is blamed for the structural failure of the world's
3rd tallest building. Many have speculated that this is the reason why the
hijackers choose to use this fully fueled trans-continental flight.

The flight route designation was later changed from Flight 11 to Flight 25
out of respect for those who died in the attack.