ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 757-223 N644AA Washington, DC
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Status:5
Date:Tuesday 11 September 2001
Time:09:40
Type:Silhouette image of generic B752 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing 757-223
Operator:American Airlines
Registration: N644AA
MSN: 24602/365
First flight: 1991
Total airframe hrs:33432
Cycles:11789
Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4B
Crew:Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Passengers:Fatalities: 58 / Occupants: 58
Total:Fatalities: 64 / Occupants: 64
Ground casualties:Fatalities: 125
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Washington, DC (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC (IAD/KIAD), United States of America
Destination airport:Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America
Flightnumber:AA77
Narrative:
Flight 77 departed Washington-Dulles at 08:10 for Los Angeles. The aircraft was hijacked by five terrorists. The hijackers took over control, reportedly switched off the transponder and changed course to Washington. Last reported data (08:56) show the aircraft flying at FL350 at 458 knots. Course was changed back to Washington and the aircraft descended for the city, approaching from the North. The Boeing reportedly passed overhead the White House and entered a tight 270deg turn, heading for the US Department of Defence building (the Pentagon). It clipped trees and lightposts before slamming into the Southwest face of the Pentagon. An explosion occurred and the building caught fire.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 4 years and 6 months
Accident number: DCA01MA064
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Pilot or passenger suicide
Hijack
Deliberately crashed

Sources:
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 17.09.2001
» ATC transcript American Airlines Flight 77 / NTSB
» Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
» Flight Path Study American Airlines Flight 77 / NTSB
» American Airlines Flight 77 FDR Report / NTSB


Photos

photo of Boeing-757-223-N644AA
accident date: 11-09-2001
type: Boeing 757-223
registration: N644AA
photo of Boeing-757-223-N644AA
accident date: 11-09-2001
type: Boeing 757-223
registration: N644AA
photo of Boeing-757-223-N644AA
accident date: 11-09-2001
type: Boeing 757-223
registration: N644AA
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 3649 km (2281 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Boeing 757

  • 1050 built
  • 7th loss
  • 7th fatal accident
  • The worst accident
» safety profile

 United States of America
  • 5th worst accident (at the time)
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