Marwan al-Shehhi

Marwan al-Shehhi (May 9, 1978 – September 11, 2001) was an Emirati terrorist hijacker for al-Qaeda. He was the hijacker-pilot on United Airlines Flight 175 (Boeing 767). As part of the September 11 attacks, he crashed the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in a suicide attack. He was one of five hijackers aboard the aircraft and one of two Emiratis to take part in the attacks, the other being Fayez Banihammad, who helped him hijack the same plane.

Al-Shehhi was a university student in applied sciences from the United Arab Emirates. In 1996, at the age of 18, he moved to Germany to pursue his university education. There, he met Mohamed Atta and Ziad Jarrah, who were also studying applied sciences and engineering. Shortly thereafter, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, who provided them with financial support, joined them, and they formed the Hamburg cell. Together, after pledging their lives to martyrdom (Jihad), they became the leaders of the September 11 attacks.

In late 1999, Ramzi bin al-Shibh invited three of them to al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, and they went. They met with Osama bin Laden, who assigned tasks to three members of the Hamburg cell for the attacks in the United States. He arrived in the United States in May 2000, one month before Atta. Atta, al-Shehhi, and Jarrah had been trained as pilots in Florida at Huffman Aviation, receiving their commercial pilot licenses in December 2000 and January 2001 from the FAA.

Al-Shehhi spent his time making preparations for the attack itself, such as meeting with crucial planners abroad, assisting with the arrival of hijackers aboard the other flights, and travelling on surveillance flights determining details on how the hijacking would take place. On 9 September 2001, he traveled from Florida to Boston, where he stayed at the Milner Hotel until 11 September. After boarding United Airlines Flight 175 at Logan International Airport, al-Shehhi and 4 other hijackers waited 30 minutes into the flight to make their attack, which then allowed al-Shehhi to take over control as pilot, and at 9:03 am, 17 minutes after Mohamed Atta crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower, Al-Shehhi flew the Boeing 767 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center between floors 77 to 85. At 23 years of age, he was the youngest hijacker-pilot to participate in the attacks.

Early life

Marwan Yousef Mohamed Rashid Lekrab al-Shehhi was born on 9 May 1978, in Al Qusaidat, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. His father was an Arab imam and his mother was Egyptian.

He grew up in a quiet family and was known as a devoted person. Not much is known about his life in the United Arab Emirates. He belonged to the Shihuh tribe through his father’s side.

Later, he studied in Germany. He joined the University of Bonn after finishing a German course, but had to leave in 1997 to deal with issues at home. He then went to the Technical University of Hamburg in 1998. He struggled with his studies and had to repeat some courses. By July 1999, he returned to Hamburg to study shipbuilding.

Radicalization

Marwan al-Shehhi moved to Hamburg in 1998, where he joined a group with Mohamed Atta and Ramzi bin al-Shibh. During this time, his beliefs became stronger and more extreme. They met often to talk about opposing America and planning possible attacks.

In late 1999, al-Shehhi and his group planned to travel to Chechnya but decided instead to go to Afghanistan to meet with Osama bin Laden. After training there, they tried to hide their activities. Al-Shehhi even shaved his beard, making it seem like he had changed his ways.

In the United States

Al-Shehhi was the first of his group to arrive in the United States, reaching Newark, New Jersey in May 2000. He was soon joined by two others, and together they searched for flight schools. They studied flying in Venice, Florida, practicing on a flight simulator and earning their licenses by December 2000. Their training costs were covered by another person.

After finishing their training, the group traveled abroad during the holiday season. Al-Shehhi visited Morocco and then the United Arab Emirates to see his wife. His family grew worried when they did not hear from him, and after they reported him missing, he contacted them in January 2001 to reassure them he was safe.

Both al-Shehhi and another member had trouble returning to the United States in January because they did not have student visas, but they managed to convince officials to let them stay for more flight training. They traveled between Florida, Georgia, and Virginia during early 2001, sometimes renting planes and staying at different places. By April, they joined two other members at a mosque in Virginia Beach before returning to Florida. Later, al-Shehhi took flights to watch how pilots worked and made final plans for what was to come.

September 11 attacks and death

Main article: United Airlines Flight 175

On September 9, Marwan al-Shehhi flew from Florida to Boston and stayed in a hotel with three other men. The next day, he had a phone call with another person involved in the plans.

Early on the morning of September 11, al-Shehhi received a final call to confirm that the attacks were ready to begin. He and four others then boarded a plane at Logan International Airport in Boston. The plane took off, and shortly after, the men took control of the flight. Al-Shehhi then flew the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Many people were inside the tower when it was struck, and the building later collapsed.