Running Head: TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 1

Terrorist Strategy

Name

Institution Affiliation
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 2

Abstract

The paper presents an enhanced discussion on the possible shifting of mode from

hijacking a plane for a bargain all the way to hijacking it and using it as a strategic tool for

mass murder and destruction. This is regarded as terrorism, and it became a terrorist strategy

since after it was carried out on 11th September 2001. The paper presents this strategy where

the main aim of the terrorist was to take the advantage of the crew who were unaware of such

incidence and turn the hijacked plane to a guided missile which resulted in the death of more

than 2980, which was a real mass murder in the history of United States. The paper urges that

aircraft hijacking remains to be a strategy that terrorist can still use to perform their terror

attacks which pose threat to the United States and its national interests. As compared to

hijacking a commercial aircraft for passengers, terrorists are extending to private aircraft which

can be loaded with missiles, WMDs, and other explosives and then crashing it to selected

target. The paper presents this terrorist strategy and uses the event of 9/11 as an example. The

paper ends the discussion by summarizing the like strategy which is most venerable to be used

in impacting this strategy.

TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 3

Terrorist strategy used 9/11 attack

Introduction

The terrorist strategy employed by terrorists in 9/11 attack was plane hijack. This

shocking attack was organized and orchestrated by Osama Bin Laden, who was then the

leader of Al Qaeda together with other Islamists extremist groups. In the morning of

September 11, 2011, a group of 19 hijackers got through the security checkpoint system and

took over four air flights taking the advantages of crews and cockpit of the flights. The

cockpits and crews were caught unawares as they were not ready and had no idea of the

suicide hijacking. The hijacked planes acted like deadly guided missiles directed towards the

Twin Towers and Pentagon (Halliday, 2013). The result of the attack was that about 2981

people died. World trade center was most affected having 2600 people dead, and 125 others

died at the Pentagon. The remaining 256 people died in the four hijacked planes. This death

toll became historic as it surpassed December 1941 Pearl Harbor. This terrorist strategy of

hijacking planes and using them as tools for mass destruction since then became a threat to

the United States of America and its national interest (Utley, 2016).

Brief History of aircraft hijacking

Aircraft hijacking can be seen to be unlawful capture or attack of an aircraft by a

person or individuals whereby the person/individuals commands the pilot to fly according to

his/their order. In most cases, hijackers would retain the crew as hostages and then demand

reimbursements for their release. In the United States, the first airplane hijacking dates back

to 1961. These marked a new era of plane hijacking in the United States. By 1969, there was

reportedly 40 attempts of plane hijacking most cases reported from persons intending to divert

planes back to Cuba. However, hijacking was not only confined to the United States, by 1970
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 4

hijackers had seized more than 90 planes around the globe. The rise of terrorism in the Middle

East increased plane hijacking incidents. However, the actual plane hijacking was a subject to

change on September 11th, 2011 (Birkland, 2004). A group of 19 terrorists hijacked four

airplanes and turned them to be guided missiles aimed at different locations resulting in mass

destruction as well as the death of civilians. This terrorist strategy from then marked a new era

of terrorism as they had proved what they were capable of doing.

Reasons why Aircraft Hijacking of 9/11 is a Terrorist Strategy

This is a terrorist strategy since the outcome was assassination targeted to the United

States and its national interests. According to (Marrs, 2011), four planes carrying over 250

people disappeared on the morning of 9/11. The four planes were supposedly hijacked by a

group of four to five men in each plane who were later identified to be Arabs. The four flights

included flight 11 which was traveling from Boston to Manhattan, Flight 175 traveling also

traveling from Boston to Manhattan, the flight 77 traveling from Dulles to Washington DC

and Flight 93 traveling from Newark to Washington DC. Each of the four flight had traveled

several miles over the Northern corridor after the suspected hijacking which went own

successfully since the air defense network did not intervene and the unaware crew who were

unaware of that the hijacking was terrorist strategies.

They forced the pilots of the four planes to change course. The first Flight which

was flight 11 was directed towards the North Tower traveling at a speed of 440mph and was

carrying around 9,718 gallons of jet fuel. The flight had 81 seats out of 158 seats occupied by

passengers. The second Flight was Flight 175, the flight had 56 seats occupied out of its 168

seats and was carrying 9118 gallons of fuel in the tanks traveling at a speed of 540mph. The

flight was crashed at South Tower minutes later after Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower.
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 5

The third plane was Flight 77 which had 58 out of 168 seats occupied, and it had 4000 gallons

of fuel traveling at a speed of 530 mph. The Flight crashed into Pentagon. The fourth plane

was Flight 93, carrying 37 passengers. The plane crashed at a speed of 560mph into

Shanksville empty fields in Pennsylvania some minutes after Flight 77 crashed into Pentagon

(Utley, 2016).

The result was that approximately, 2980 people died in the event marked as 9/11

terrorist attack. The act of hijacking the four planes and turning them to be guided missiles

causing deaths is termed as terrorism. This is because, the act involved assassinations which

targeted killings of individuals and public officials who represented political, military,

economic, security, religious establishments. This attack was ideologically and religion based

since all the 19 hijackers were Arabs from the Middle East. As a result, this was a terrorist

tactic aimed at eliminating enemies whom at this case were Americans as well as intimidating

the population and hence, this was a terrorist strategy.

The Terrorists who employ the use of this strategy.

Before the terror of 9/11, there had no reported cases of plane hijacking aimed at

assassination. Initially and what was well known, hijackers would hijack a plane and then use

the crew members as hostages. They would claim reimbursement for the release of the crew

members. However, due to the upsurge of terrorism in the late 1970s after Afghanistan

invasion, terrorists started employing various strategies to perform terrorist attacks all over the

world. The attack of 9/11 marked a new era of aircraft hijacking as a terrorist strategy. In this

case, the terrorists who employed the use of this strategy was al Qaeda. They were led by their

leader, Osama Bin Laden. According to (Linley, Joseph, Cooper, Harris, & Meyer, 2003), al-

Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the 9/11 terror attack.
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 6

Therefore, al Qaeda which is a terrorist group based in the Middle East were

responsible for using this terrorist strategy. Earlier, this strategy had not been in use, and no

terrorist group had used it. Mainly, the terrorist group was using other terrorist strategies like

bombing. For instance, the bombing of the Pan Am Flight 103 in the Scottish city of

Lockerbie in 1988. Therefore, the terrorist who can accredit of using this strategy is al Qaeda

as there have no other terrorists who had used such a tactic.

Why the terrorist use this strategy

The main aim of terrorism is to use violence aiming at causing assassinations and

property damage. The use of the hijacked plane and use it as a guided missile is a strategy that

can result in the death of many people as well as the destruction of properties. This is the main

aim of terrorists to ensure that their enemies pay back. In this case, the main reason why the

terrorist employed the use of this strategy was that it was the sure way that could cause mass

destruction and a lot of deaths. The earlier use of bombs as the terrorist strategy where planes

were targeted like Lockerbie Bombing in Scotland did produce many casualties as compared

to the terror of 9/11 (Hanes, & Machin, 2014). Also, this strategy had not been used earlier as

a terrorist strategy and therefore, there was no much speculation that terrorists could hijack

planes and use it as missiles targeting various locations to cause destruction of properties and

death of people as experienced in 9/11 attack. Therefore, in this case, it can be a satiable

reason why the terrorists used this strategy.

TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 7

When the terrorist strategy is effective.

Every act of terrorist is as a result of improper awareness by the cockpits as well as

the members of the crew including passengers. The cockpit is vulnerable every time a cockpit

takes a small break and just like that; it can happen. From the passengers who seems to be,

can rush from their seats and go towards the location of the cockpits leaving the flight

attendants and other improvisational defense means in their wake. In this case, the hijackers

who were behind the 9/11 terror attack waited for the cockpit reinforced door to open (Fradin,

2010). One of the co-pilot had to use the lavatory, and the hijackers would then take control

of the flight.

Federal Aviation Administration was aware of this scenario for years of which had

prompted the installation of Secondary Physical barriers (IPBs) by airline industries. In this

installation, retractable devices that look like a fence would be set up between the cockpit and

the cabin. Besides, the airline industry would force a comprehensive wide security check ups

for passengers who boards the aircraft. Failing to enhance security would be a real way for

this strategy to be effective.

So the main concern for many who believes that the strategy is effective is the

transition of the door leading to the cockpit. The time the door is opened to the time the door

is closed. This marks an ample time for any passenger who want to get the control of the

plane to go and order the pilot to follow his commands. Even though most of the door

transitions are over before passengers can realize they are happening, many people suggest

that the airplanes are not as secure as they are supposed to be and the way they should during

this brief transition. Therefore, to sum up, the terrorist strategy is most effective when the

security is down. This means that the passengers boarding the airplane are not screened before
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 8

they board. This form a way in which the hijackers can go through with weapons which they

use to scare pilot so that they command are adhered with. Through this, way this strategy

seems to be so effective. The other way discussed above is the door that leads to cockpit

transitions. When it is open, the hijackers can access the pilot and takes control of the

airplane.

As indicated, there are various ways when the strategy is effective. The reason for

effectiveness depends on when it is effective. For instance, the FAA suggests that all

passengers should undergo a complete screening before they board an airplane. Corruption

and conspiracy are the main reason why the terrorist strategy becomes effective.

The Flaws of this strategy

Although the strategy is sometimes effective, like the case of 9/11 terrorist attack, it

has some errors and defects which can cease it from happening. The main error of the strategy

is improper planning. This planning involves some sought of conspiracies between the

hijackers and the people involved in the flight. If there is improper communication, the crew

members can observe abnormal situation which can end up reporting to the FAA before the

aircraft can be seized by the hijackers (Zulaika, 2016). Also, the pilots can be acknowledged

of the plan where they can take varied actions such as locking the reinforced door leading to

them. Closing the door means that the hijackers will have no access to the cockpit where they

can command the pilot on what to do.

The other flaw is that a pilot and other members of the crew can fail to adhere to the

given commands. For instance, according to (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon

the United States, 2002) the plane that crashed in Shanksville empty fields in Pennsylvania

was not according to the plan. It is believed that a passenger inside the airplane on noticing
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 9

the intention of the hijackers, he caused disturbances which caused their plans to be thwarted.

The flaw in this is its inability for the strategy to undergo unnoticed. However, the reaction of

the people involved would either make it a fail or success.

Infrastructure that support use of this terrorist strategy

The main infrastructure that supports the use of this terrorist strategy is air transport.

After the attack of 9/11, aircraft hijacking became a reality of a terrorist strategy aimed at

causing mass destruction as well as the death of people. This terrorist strategy in 9/11 is a

clear illustration of the need to enhance security within air transport. Since it involves

hijacking an aircraft, air transport is most vulnerable to this strategy. The hijackers just as the

case of 9/11 would get into the plane just as other passengers. However, their main intention

is to hijack the plane by seizing it and ordering the pilots in doing what they command. Just

like the 9/11 attack, the hijackers changed the pilot to guided missiles aimed at main building

in United States capital and in New York City. The reason why this infrastructure supports

terrorist strategy is due to the inability of receiving other assistance from outside. In all the

strategies used by terrorists, this is the most effective one as proved by the terrorist attack of

9/11 (Johnstone, 2015).

Also, the way an airplane is built supports the use of this terrorist strategy. For

instance, an airplane without a separation of the cockpit and the passengers is at a high level

of hijacking as compared to planes whereby the cockpit are separated from the passengers.

Normally, a reinforced door that remains closed acts as a gap between the passengers and the

cockpit. When the passengers have a direct link, it means that a hijacker acting like a

passenger can have access to the cockpit and order the pilot to follow their commands of

committing an act of terrorism.

TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 10

The 9/11 terror attack annotated bibliography

Halliday, F. (2013). Two hours that shook the world: September 11, 2001: causes and

consequences. Saqi

The author presents and examines the rising Islamic Fundamentalism as well as the

way terror became the mechanism of both military and political conflicts. The author analyzes

the two hours which shook the whole world and goes on to provide reasoning approach on

how the future might be. The article offers a chronological of events since the time of cold

war, the rise of Islamism up to September 11. The editorial goes further and highlights the

terrorist strategy that was behind the attack. The author ends his evaluation with an

assessment of how the United States is apparent as well as the conflicting argument

concerning the attack. This is a primary source of information regarding the strategies used by

terrorist in 9/11 terrorist attack.

Utley, R. E. (Ed.). (2016). 9/11 ten years after Perspectives and problems. Routledge

The author presents a range of investigation from international responses to the 9/11

terror attack. The author goes further and gives an analysis of long lasting significance and

consideration of both the international security agenda insinuations and prospects for global

cooperation in addressing challenges posed by 9/11 terror attack. The breadth in which the

books addresses the issue makes it a useful source of information to researchers who are in

security field study and who want to have more information regarding the 9/11 terror attack

and the strategy used.

TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 11

Marrs, J. (2011). The terror conspiracy revisited: What happened on 9/11, and why

we're still paying the price. New York: Disinformation.

The author presents and deflates the theory behind the Muslim plane hijackers who

hijacked the four planes that were used in the 9/11 terror attack. This article offers a more

realistic theory of conspiracy that was behind the terror attack and goes on to expose the

likely complicity of the government of United States in the 9/11 terror attack. The information

presented by the author acts a primary and perfect source of information regarding the 9/11

terror attack.

Fradin, D. B. (2010). September 11, 2001. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.

The author presents a coverage of the 9/11 terror attack as a defining moment in the

history of United States. He presents this coverage and the way it influenced political, social

and economic policies which he says shaped the country's future. Also, the author presents

how the terror happened highlighting how the planes were hijacked and how they crashed

them into the tallest building in New York. As a result, the information presented therein acts

as a primary and a reliable source of information for anyone researching the 9/11 terrorist

attack.

Green, R. (2015). Cause & effect: The September 11 attacks.

The author presents an analysis of the possible factors that contributed to the terror

attack of 9/11 and the effect it had on the United States. The author analysis by examining

questions which include how the Soviet war in Afghanistan did contribute to the upsurge of

Islamist Terrorism? How did the politics of Middle East contribute to the upsurge of al

Qaeda? Through the question, the author examines the possible cause of the 9/11 terrorist

attack. To assess the effect caused, the author examines the question; what was the change in
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 12

the life of United States after the September 11 attack? This is a helpful source of information

for researchers who want to acquire information related to 9/11 terrorist attack.

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (2002, August 21).

THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT. Retrieved from National Commission on Terrorist

Attacks Upon the United States:

http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Exec.htm

The article presents a report of the 9/11 terrorist attacks where it analyzes how it

happened and the events that contributed to its occurrence. The report highlights the plot and

the enemies behind the incidence. The reports go further to give sequential events that lead to

the occurrence of the terror. In the end, the report suggests recommendations to be

implemented so that such a future terror can be mitigated. This report is a good source of

information regarding the 9/1 terrorist attack.

Linley, P. A., Joseph, S., Cooper, R., Harris, S., & Meyer, C. (2003). Positive and

negative changes following vicarious exposure to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Journal of Traumatic Stress, 16(5), 481-485.

The article presents September 11 terrorist attack and the changes it impacted both

negative and positive. The author also presents how the terror attack and the way it affected

the people who were involved and those who were not involved. The article goes further to

indicate that the attackers who orchestrated and implemented the act believed in their values

and beliefs as well. Although the information presented by the article is dispensable for

research related to 9/11 terrorist attack, it helps in revealing the effect caused by the terror.
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 13

Birkland, T. A. (2004). "The World Changed Today": Agenda‐Setting and Policy

Change in the Wake of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks. Review of Policy Research,

21(2), 179-200.

The article presents the terror event of September 11 and illustrates to what extend

the policies have changed due to this terror attack. The author goes further to state that even

if the events of 9/11 provided an incentive for a change, a threat of terrorism was still

highlighted and established in the policy agendas. The author goes on to argue that the event

opened a window for change in policies mostly the preexisting ideas where much of the idea

were passed. The author highlight the part of aviation security which was mostly changed.

This source of information contains information which is reliable for researchers who want to

have more details related to 9/11 terror attack.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum (2016). 9/11 Primary Sources.

Retrieved from 9/11 Memorial: http://www.911memorial.org/911-primary-sources

This source presents and contains all the information related to 11 September 2001.

This source acts as a primary source. It includes legislative acts that reflect the 9/11, the

executive orders, the military action, and the findings of the government about the event as

well as memorization both collective and personal. This source of information offers

educational programs regarding the 9/11 attack which comprises summer programs where one

can acquire information pertaining the 9/11 attack. This is a useful source of information for

researchers as it contains a primary source of information for 9/11 terrorist attack.

Johnstone, R. W. (2015). Protecting transportation: Implementing security policies and

programs.
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 14

The author presents a detailed impression of United States transportation security

mainly focusing on policy about 9/11 terror attack. This editorial covers every major model of

transportation that can be utilized by terrorist o organize their strategies. The editorial goes

further and puts the United States security systems into viewpoint contrary to other global

systems. The author offers a discussion of how the transportation security system currently is

and the way it is performing. This is a good source of obtaining information regarding

transportation which was the terrorist strategy employed by the terrorists in 9/11 terror attack.

Zulaika, J. (2016). On the ontology of terrorism. Routledge Handbook of Critical

Terrorism Studies, 39.

The article presents a collection of comprehensive illustrations which investigates the

contribution of United States Critical Terrorism Studies to the understanding of people of

contemporary terrorism and the way to deal with it. It highlights how the 9/11 terrorist attack

became a perilous part of the Critical and Terrorism Studies which helps in maintaining a well

steady approach to counterterrorism. The editorial explores the causes of terrorism, response

to terrorism and the strategies that can be employed by terrorists highlighting the tactic of

9/11. This source of information is a credible source as it highlights the strategies that terrorist

employed during the 9/11 terrorist attack which is vital to study of terrorist studies.

Hanes, E., & Machin, S. (2014). Hate crime in the wake of terror attacks: Evidence

from 7/7 and 9/11. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 345-380.

The article presents and offers evidence for the cause of terror attack of 9/11 in the

United States and 7/7 in London. This editorial concentrates much on the hate crimes against

the Arabs which led to the occurrence of the terror attacks. The article presents an idea that
TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 15

the terror attack was as a result of increased and subsequent hate crimes. It hypothesizes if a

change to this is impacted, then the terror attacks could go down. Although he source does not

present information regarding strategies used by the terrorists in the 9/11 attack, it helps a

researcher to convey the real cause that leads to the occurrence of this terror.
 TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 16

References

1. Birkland, T. A. (2004). “The World Changed Today”: Agenda‐Setting and Policy Change in

the Wake of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks. Review of Policy Research, 21(2), 179-200.

2. Fradin, D. B. (2010). September 11, 2001. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.

3. Green, R. (2015). Cause & effect: The September 11 attacks.

4. Halliday, F. (2013). Two hours that shook the world: September 11, 2001: causes and

consequences. Saqi

5. Hanes, E., & Machin, S. (2014). Hate crime in the wake of terror attacks: Evidence from 7/7

and 9/11. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 345-380.

6. Johnstone, R. W. (2015). Protecting transportation: Implementing security policies and

programs.

7. Linley, P. A., Joseph, S., Cooper, R., Harris, S., & Meyer, C. (2003). Positive and negative

changes following vicarious exposure to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Journal of

Traumatic Stress, 16(5), 481-485.

8. Marrs, J. (2011). The terror conspiracy revisited: What really happened on 9/11, and why

we're still paying the price. New York: Disinformation.

9. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (2002, August 21). THE

9/11 COMMISSION REPORT. Retrieved from National Commission on Terrorist Attacks

Upon the United States: http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Exec.htm

10. National September 11 Memorial & Museum (2016). 9/11 Primary Sources.

Retrieved from 9/11 Memorial: http://www.911memorial.org/911-primary-sources

11. Utley, R. E. (Ed.). (2016). 9/11 ten years after: Perspectives and problems. Routledge.
 TERRORIST STRATEGY USED 9/11 ATTACK 17

12. Zulaika, J. (2016). On the ontology of terrorism. Routledge Handbook of Critical Terrorism

Studies, 39.