Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Guard Pilot Said Flight 93 Intercept Would Be Suicide Mission

9/9/2026

1 1 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Heather Penney, a U.S. National Guard pilot, readied jets to intercept United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
She said the interception would have been a suicide mission.
She said the two-ship never launched because the Pentagon was hit.
Passengers on United Flight 93 stormed the cockpit, forcing the hijacked plane to crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Her father John Penney was a United Airlines captain flying on September 11, 2001.

1 of 1

Story summary

Heather Penney, a U.S. National Guard pilot, readied jets to intercept United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
She said the interception would have been a suicide mission.
She said the two-ship never launched because the Pentagon was hit.
Passengers on United Flight 93 stormed the cockpit, forcing the hijacked plane to crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Her father John Penney was a United Airlines captain flying on September 11, 2001.