Newark Airport Gate A17 Sign Preserved for Flight 93 Memorial

Newark Airport Gate A17 Sign Donated to Flight 93 Memorial

The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey has donated the Gate A17 sign from Newark Liberty International Airport to the Flight 93 National Memorial. Gate A17 was the departure point for United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, which was hijacked but failed to reach its intended target. Instead, it crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where the memorial is now located, honoring both those lost and the heroism displayed by the passengers.

Preservation Amid Airport Reconstruction

Gate A17 was part of Newark’s Terminal A from where United UA93 departed on the fateful morning. Following the September 11 attacks, the airport was renamed Newark Liberty International Airport, and an American flag was placed on the jetbridge at A17 to honor the passengers’ brave fight. As the Port Authority embarked on reconstructing Newark Liberty, the new Terminal A opened in 2023, replacing the original terminal from 1973. The Gate A17 sign was preserved during this redevelopment.

The sign lay in storage during the demolition and was later donated to the Shanksville Flight 93 Memorial. Officially transferred from the Port Authority to the National Park Service, it was received by the Flight 93 National Memorial in August.

Flight 93 National Memorial: Honoring Heroism

Constructed at the crash site in Shanksville, the Flight 93 National Memorial pays tribute to the lives lost on United Flight 93 during the terrorist attacks. Established on September 24, 2002, the site has since expanded. Unique among the four flights hijacked on 9/11, Flight 93 did not reach its target due to passengers’ efforts to overcome the hijackers after discerning their intentions. In the ensuing struggle, the aircraft crashed approximately 20 minutes away from Washington, D.C.

The memorial features a Wall of Names and the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot tall monument housing 40 wind chimes. The Visitor Center showcases artifacts, including the Gate A17 sign.

September 11: A Day of Tragedy

On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four airliners aimed at symbolic American targets. Two American Airlines and two United Airlines flights were commandeered. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 both departed from Boston but were flown into the World Trade Center towers. American Airlines Flight 77 was commandeered to hit the Pentagon. While United Flight 93’s intended target remains speculative, it’s believed to potentially be the US Capitol or the White House.

The September 11 attacks resulted in 2,977 deaths, excluding hijackers, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history. The events led to significant changes in aviation security and operations.