On September 11 , 2001 , during the terrorist attacks on the United States , Shanksville received worldwide attention after United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township , north of the town of Shanksville , killing all 40 civilians and four al-Qaeda hijackers on board . The hijackers had intended to fly the plane to Washington , D.C. and crash it into either the Capitol or the White House . However , after learning from family members via airphone of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon , the passengers on board revolted against the hijackers and fought for control of the plane , causing it to crash . It was the only one of the four aircraft hijacked that day that never reached its intended target
terrorist attacks on the United States
September 11 attacks
Shanksville, Pennsylvania