Wail al Shehri was one of the so-called “muscle hijackers” of American Airlines Flight 11, flown into the World Trade Center’s north tower as the first of the four 9/11 plane hijackings.
Wail al Shehri
Overview
Wail al Shehri was one of the so-called “muscle hijackers” of American Airlines Flight 11, flown into the World Trade Center’s north tower as the first of the four 9/11 plane hijackings.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 231; 437, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. As a muscle hijacker, Shehri helped to storm the cockpit and keep passengers under controlNational Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 227, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. so that the hijacker-pilot, Mohamed Atta, could take control of the plane. According to reports, Wail and his brother Waleed al Shehri, another muscle hijacker on the flight, likely initiated the hijacking by stabbing two unarmed flight attendants preparing for cabin service.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 5, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.
After completing the basic training sometime in 2000,National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 234-5, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Shehri returned to Saudi Arabia, where he obtained a clean passport on October 3, 2000Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 01 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 93, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-01-of-02/. and a U.S. visa on October 24, on which he claimed Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to be his hometown and “South City” to be his destination in the United States.Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 01 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 98, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-01-of-02/. The Shehri brothers had a relative in the Saudi passport office who provided them their new passports.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 525, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.
Wail was part of a group that traveled from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon and Iran in November 2000. While the purpose of this trip is unknown, the 9/11 Commission suggests that they may have met with and sought support from Hezbollah officials.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 240, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. The so-called “muscle hijackers” then returned to Afghanistan for special training in late 2000 or early 2001, where they learned to conduct hijackings.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 235-6, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. All of the muscle hijackers were personally chosen by bin Laden during this time, after which they committed to carrying out a suicide operation and filmed a so-called “martyrdom video.”National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 235, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. The video featuring Wail al Shehri was released in September of 2006.Jim Popkin, “Video showing Atta, bin Laden is unearthed,” NBC News, October 1, 2006, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15082633/ns/us_news-security/t/video-showing-atta-bin-laden-unearthed/#.WV5eI9MrKt8.
Wail al Shehri flew from the United Arab Emirates to Miami, Florida, through London, alongside fellow 9/11 hijacker Ahmad al Haznawi, arriving in Miami on June 8, 2001.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 528, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. The hijackers stayed in various motels and apartments in southern Florida in the subsequent months.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 241, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Records show that he opened a bank account,Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 162, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-02-of-02/. obtained a Florida state ID card,Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 176, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-02-of-02/. and even joined a gym.Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 178, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-02-of-02/.
On August 28, Shehri booked a first-class ticket on American Airlines Flight 11,Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 237, 241, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-02-of-02/. bound from Boston to Los Angeles. On September 3, Shehri and his brother Waleed contacted American Airlines to change their seat assignments the other side of the plane, where they would have a direct view of the cockpit.Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 249, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-02-of-02/. On September 5, the brothers flew from Fort Lauderdale to Boston, later checking into a motel in Newton, Massachusetts,Federal Bureau of Investigation, “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” accessed July 7, 2017, 257, https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commission%20Report/9-11-chronology-part-02-of-02/. where they stayed until the morning of September 11.
On the morning of September 11, all five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 11 checked in at Boston Logan International Airport between 6:45 and 7:40 a.m. Shehri and two of the flight’s other hijackers were selected by a computerized prescreening system at Boston Logan, but were ultimately able to clear the security checkpoint and board the flight without issue. American Airlines Flight 11 departed at 7:59 a.m.,National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 4, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. scheduled to fly with nonstop service from Boston to Los Angeles. Waleed sat in seat 2B in the first class cabin, next to his brother in seat 2A.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 2, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.
The plane hijacking on American Airlines Flight 11 is believed to have begun at around 8:14 a.m.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 4, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Based on reports from two flight attendants who made calls before the plane crashed, it began when two hijackers stabbed the two unarmed flight attendants preparing for cabin service. Given their seat location, these hijackers were most likely Wail and Waleed al Shehri. The flight’s hijackers claimed that they had a bomb, and sprayed pepper spray in the first-class cabinNational Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 5, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. so that hijacker-pilot Mohamed Atta could enter the cockpit and wrest control of the aircraft. At 8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, killing everyone on board and an unknown number of people in the tower.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 6-7, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. The 9/11 attacks—including attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the thwarted attack headed for the White House or Capitol—left nearly 3,000 people dead in the single deadliest attack in U.S. history.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 311, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.
Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks was the deadliest ever on American soil, killing nearly 3,000 people. Since the fall of the Taliban, al-Qaeda has established operations worldwide, including in Syria, the Gulf, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
History
Allegedly becomes depressed and quits job as physical education teacher to travel to an Islamic holy city, where he seeks help from a religious healer.
Reportedly swears an oath to jihad at a local mosque with brother Waleed.
Spring 2000
Travels to Afghanistan, where he spends time in an al-Qaeda training camp and volunteers for a suicide mission.
Sources: “Profiles of 9/11 Saudi Hijackers Revealed,” Saudi Information Agency, September 11, 2002, web.archive.org/web/2007110706…; Charles M. Sennott, “Before oath to jihad, drifting and boredom,” Boston Globe, March 3, 2002, www.webcitation.org/5bTYljW3A?…; National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 233-4, govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/re….
Obtains new passport in Saudi Arabia.
October 3, 2000
Source: “9/11 Chronology Part 01 of 02,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed July 7, 2017, 93, vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commissio….
Obtains U.S. visa.
October 24, 2000
Source: “9/11 Chronology Part 01 of 02,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed July 7, 2017, 98, vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commissio….
Travels with a group of future 9/11 hijackers to Beirut and Iran, possibly to meet with and seek support from Hezbollah officials.
November 2000
Source: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 240, govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/re….
Returns to Afghanistan for special training and is personally selected by Bin Laden to carry out the 9/11 attacks.
December 2000 — January 2000
Commits to carrying out a suicide operation and films his so-called “martyrdom video.”
Sources: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 235-236, govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/re….
Arrives in Miami, Florida.
Late 2000—Early 2001
The hijackers stay at a variety of motels and apartments in southern Florida in the subsequent months.
Sources: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 528, govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/re…; “9/11 Chronology Part 01 of 02,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed July 7, 2017, 54, 87, vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commissio….
Calls American Airlines to change seat assignment to seat that has direct view of the cockpit.
September 3, 2001
Source: “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed July 7, 2017, 249, vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commissio….
Travels from Ft. Lauderdale to Boston.
September 5, 2001
Source: “9/11 Chronology Part 02 of 02,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, accessed July 7, 2017, 257, vault.fbi.gov/9-11%20Commissio….
Hijacks American Airlines Flight 11.
September 11, 2001
Believed to have initiated the hijacking by stabbing a flight attendant and clearing the first-class cabin of passengers so that the hijacker-pilot, Mohamed Atta, could take control of the plane and fly the aircraft into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Dies instantly along with all other passengers on board. The 9/11 attacks leave nearly 3,000 people dead in the single deadliest attack in U.S. history.
Source: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 6-7, 311, govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/re….
Featured in an al-Qaeda video.
September 7, 2006
Al-Qaeda releases Shehri’s so-called “martyrdom video,” including Shehri’s last will and testament.
Source: “Video is said to show bin Laden prepping for 9/11 attacks,” CNN, September 8, 2006, www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/0….
Allegedly becomes depressed and quits job as physical education teacher to travel to an Islamic holy city, where he seeks help from a religious healer.
Reportedly swears an oath to jihad at a local mosque with brother Waleed.
Obtains new passport in Saudi Arabia.
Obtains U.S. visa.
Travels with a group of future 9/11 hijackers to Beirut and Iran, possibly to meet with and seek support from Hezbollah officials.
Returns to Afghanistan for special training and is personally selected by Bin Laden to carry out the 9/11 attacks.
Arrives in Miami, Florida.
Calls American Airlines to change seat assignment to seat that has direct view of the cockpit.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.