Rajan Wilcox
American Airlines Flight 77 was a scheduled flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. On September 11, 2001, the flight was hijacked by terrorists and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people (125 in the Pentagon and 59 on the flight). The impact of the crash caused the jet fuel to explode into a fireball, resulting in the collapse of a section of the building above where the plane hit. While the exact amount of jet fuel carried by Flight 77 is not publicly available, the amount was sufficient to cause significant destruction and loss of life.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77, scheduled to fly from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, was hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists. The flight took off from Washington Dulles International Airport at 8:20 am with 58 passengers and a crew of six on board.
The hijackers consisted of five Saudi men affiliated with al-Qaeda: Hani Hanjour, Khalid al-Mihdhar, Majed Moqed, and brothers Salem and Nawaf al-Hazmi. Hanjour, a trained pilot, led the group. All five hijackers checked in at the American Airlines ticket counter between 7:15 and 7:29 am and passed through the passenger security checkpoint by 7:35 am. Security footage later revealed that Nawaf al-Hazmi had an unidentified item in his back pocket.
Between 8:51 and 8:54 am, the hijackers took control of the aircraft. At 8:54, the plane deviated from its assigned flight path, turning south. Two minutes later, the transponder was switched off, and the flight's autopilot was engaged, heading eastbound towards Washington, D.C. By this time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was aware of an emergency on board.
At 9:32, air traffic controllers at Dulles noticed an unidentified aircraft travelling east at a high speed, and notified Reagan National Airport. The aircraft, now identified as Flight 77, executed a sharp turn and quick descent towards the Pentagon. At 9:37, the Boeing 757-200 crashed into the Pentagon, killing all 64 people on board and 125 people in the building. The impact and subsequent explosion of jet fuel caused severe damage to the Pentagon, with a section of the building collapsing about half an hour later.
Fuel Filter Replacement: Cost and Process
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The plane crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77, scheduled to fly from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, was hijacked by terrorists and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon. The plane, carrying 59 passengers, was commandeered by Khalid al-Mihdhar, Majed Moqed, and the Hazmi brothers. At 8:54 a.m., the plane deviated from its normal flight path, turning south, and its transponder was switched off. The flight's autopilot was then set on a course heading eastbound towards Washington, D.C.
At 9:32 a.m., air traffic controllers at Dulles detected an unidentified aircraft travelling east at a high rate of speed. The plane, now just five miles west-southwest of the Pentagon, executed a sharp turn and quick descent, crashing into the outer wall between the first and second floors and smashing through three of the Pentagon's five concentric rings. The impact caused the jet fuel to explode into a fireball, and half an hour later, a section of the building above the impact site collapsed.
The Pentagon, with its steel-reinforced concrete and brick construction, saved the lives of most employees in Wedges 1 and 2 from fires and explosions. The rigidity of the building's façade also caused some of the fuel in the wings to detonate on impact, reducing the destruction inside the building.
The 9/11 attack on the Pentagon was part of a coordinated series of hijackings by al-Qaeda, which also included the attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. The attack on the Pentagon resulted in a total of 184 victims, including the 59 passengers on Flight 77 and 125 in the Pentagon.
Fusion Reactors: Fuel Efficiency and Energy Output
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The jet fuel exploded, causing a fireball and building collapse
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked by terrorists and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon. The plane hit the outer wall between the first and second floors and smashed through three of the Pentagon's five concentric rings. The jet fuel exploded into a fireball, and about half an hour later, a section of the building above where the plane hit collapsed.
The impact of Flight 77 on the Pentagon caused the jet fuel to explode, creating a fireball and resulting in the collapse of a portion of the building. While the exact amount of jet fuel carried by Flight 77 is not publicly available, it is safe to assume that the plane was carrying a significant amount, as it was traveling from Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles International Airport.
Jet fuel is a highly flammable and volatile substance. When the plane crashed into the Pentagon, the impact likely caused the jet fuel tanks to rupture, releasing the fuel and creating a flammable mist. This mist then ignited, causing a fireball and explosion. The explosion would have further weakened the structure of the building, contributing to the collapse.
While the jet fuel explosion played a significant role in the collapse, it is important to consider other factors. The impact of the plane itself would have caused substantial damage to the building's structure, particularly the outer wall and the concentric rings it smashed through. Additionally, the weight of the plane and the force of the impact would have placed immense stress on the building's supports and trusses, further compromising their structural integrity.
It is worth noting that conspiracy theories have emerged questioning whether jet fuel could have been the sole cause of the collapse. Some argue that the burning temperature of jet fuel is insufficient to melt steel beams. However, experts refute this claim, stating that it is not necessary to melt steel beams to compromise the structural integrity of a building. Additionally, other factors, such as the impact of the plane and the weight bearing down from the upper floors, would have contributed to the collapse.
In summary, the jet fuel explosion from Flight 77 caused a fireball and contributed to the collapse of a portion of the Pentagon. The highly flammable nature of jet fuel, combined with the impact of the crash, resulted in a devastating outcome. However, it is important to consider the multitude of factors at play, including the structural damage caused by the plane's impact and the weight bearing down on the weakened supports.
Auto Fuel Weight: Gallon-Wise Calculations
You may want to see also
Explore related products
184 victims, including 59 on the flight
The terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, claimed the lives of 184 victims, including 59 on board American Airlines Flight 77. The flight, scheduled to travel from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, was hijacked by terrorists and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon.
The attack was coordinated by al-Qaeda, with Hani Hanjour, Nawaf al-Hazmi, and Salem al-Hazmi being the identified hijackers on Flight 77. The hijackers checked in at the American Airlines ticket counter and proceeded through security, with some of them setting off the metal detectors. Despite the alarms, they were allowed to board the flight, carrying knives and box cutters that were permitted as carry-on items at the time.
The assault on Flight 77 began at around 8:51 am, and within three minutes, the attackers had gained full control of the aircraft. During the hijacking, the victims were threatened with knives and box cutters, but there were no reports of any injuries or deaths before the crash. The pilots were spared when the cockpit was breached, and no chemical weapons or bomb threats were reported.
The plane deviated from its normal flight path, turning south and heading eastbound towards Washington, D.C. Air traffic controllers at Dulles noticed an unidentified aircraft travelling at a high speed, and it became clear that Flight 77 was heading towards the Pentagon. At 9:37 am, the plane slammed into the outer wall of the Pentagon, causing the jet fuel to explode into a fireball.
The impact and subsequent explosion resulted in the collapse of a section of the Pentagon, and the lives lost included both those on board the flight and those in the building. The victims of this tragic event are memorialized at the Pentagon Memorial, where a granite marker bears the names of all 184 individuals who perished.
Dodge Ram Fuel Pump Replacement: Cost and Process
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Pentagon's steel-reinforced concrete saved many employees
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77, scheduled to fly from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, was hijacked by terrorists and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon. The attack was part of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which saw four passenger jets commandeered by al-Qaeda.
Flight 77, carrying 59 passengers and crew, slammed into the outer wall of the Pentagon between the first and second floors. The jet fuel exploded into a fireball, and about half an hour later, a section of the building above the impact point collapsed. In total, 184 people lost their lives in the attack, including those on the plane and 125 in the Pentagon.
The Pentagon, completed in 1941, was built with steel-reinforced concrete and brick construction. This structural design proved critical in protecting employees in Wedges 1 and 2 from the fires and explosions caused by the crash. The steel reinforcement, in the form of spiral rebar, added strength to the concrete columns holding up the floors and ceilings. The concrete core inside the spiral rebar remained intact even when the exterior layer of concrete was sheared off.
Additionally, the support columns on each floor were spaced closely together, with maximum distances of 20 feet. Long stretches of rebar were run inside the concrete beams, overlapping from one beam to the next. This network of steel supports held up heavy sections of damaged concrete ceilings, preventing their collapse. The rigidity of the Pentagon's façade also caused some of the fuel in the wings to detonate on impact, reducing the internal destruction.
The steel-reinforced concrete construction of the Pentagon, a result of wartime material rationing, played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of the attack and saving the lives of many employees.
Bezos Rocket Fuel Consumption: How Much Was Used?
You may want to see also
