United Airlines Flight 93 was a domestic passenger flight that was hijacked on September 11, 2001, as part of a coordinated terrorist attack by the extremist group al-Qaeda. The flight took off from Newark International Airport in New Jersey, bound for San Francisco International Airport in California.
Shortly after takeoff, the plane was taken over by four hijackers. Passengers on board quickly became aware of the hijacking and were able to communicate with people on the ground, including family members and authorities, via cell phones. They learned about the earlier attacks that had occurred that day, including the crashes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Realizing that the hijackers planned to use the aircraft as a weapon, the passengers organized an effort to retake control of the plane. As a result of their heroic actions, the hijackers were unable to complete their intended target, which was believed to be either the U.S. Capitol or the White House.
The flight ultimately crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 AM local time. All 44 people on board, including the hijackers, were killed. The bravery of the passengers is widely recognized, and their actions prevented potentially even greater loss of life. Flight 93 is often remembered as a symbol of courage and sacrifice in the face of terrorism.