Stonycreek Township near Stoystown in Somerset County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“We're going to do something.”
Aboard Flight 93, one terrorist claims to have a bomb strapped to his waist. The crew and passengers are forced to the back of the plane and ordered to be quiet. Using Airfones from the seat backs in the rear of the plane and cellphones, passengers and crew call their families, friends, and authorities to report the hijacking. They soon learn the shocking news that Flight 93 is part of a larger attack, including the news that a third plane, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 am. This realization leads to a vote a collective decision to fight back.
Fighting Back
In little more than 30 minutes, these ordinary airline passengers and crew members, strangers to one another, develop a plan and put it into action. They rush forward from the back of the plane toward the hijackers and the cockpit. The cockpit voice recorder captures their struggle: shouts, screams, calls to action, and sounds of breaking glassware.
As the passengers and crew attempt to regain control, a terrorist shouts, “Pull it down!”. In the plane's final moments, it rolls upside down and at 10:03 am, plows into an empty field at a speed of 563 miles per hour. Upon impact, the 7,000 gallons of jet fuel on board explode, creating a ball of fire that rises high above the trees. People nearby report that, in the bright sunlight, the black cloud glitters with bits of metal debris.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: 9/11 Attacks • Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 2001.
Location. 40° 3.04′ N, 78° 54.085′ W. Marker is near Stoystown, Pennsylvania, in Somerset County. It is in Stonycreek Township. Memorial can be reached from Approach Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stoystown PA 15563, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. America Attacked! (here, next to this marker); Mayday! (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to the Memorial Plaza (a few steps from this marker); The Investigation (a few steps from this marker); Crash Site and Debris Field (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Overlooking History (approx. 0.3 miles away); Flight 93 National Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Flight 93 Temporary Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stoystown.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 30, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.