Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Former F-16 Pilot Recalls 9/11 Mission to Defend Washington
On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked airplanes and attacked the United States.
Heather Penney was a young fighter pilot near Washington, D.C. She and Marc Sasseville were told to protect the capital after the Pentagon was attacked.
Their fighter jets did not have missiles ready.
The pilots decided they would crash into a hijacked plane if that was the only way to stop it.
They did not know that the passengers of United Flight 93 had already fought back.
Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania instead of reaching its intended target.
Penney now says people should remember the bravery and unity that followed the attacks.
Heather Penney was a 26-year-old first lieutenant in the District of Columbia Air National Guard when the 9/11 attacks began.
Penney and Colonel Marc Sasseville were ordered to fly after the Pentagon was struck, but their F-16s had no missiles.
The pilots planned to crash their jets into a hijacked airliner if necessary to stop it from reaching Washington.
They did not know that United Flight 93 had already crashed in Pennsylvania before they launched.
Penney says Americans should remember the courage, unity and sacrifice shown on September 11, including by Flight 93 passengers.
- Who
- Heather Penney, Marc Sasseville, other military personnel, and the passengers of United Flight 93.
- What
- Penney recalled preparing for a possible suicide interception mission during the September 11 attacks.
- When
- During the September 11, 2001, attacks; her recollections were reported as the United States approached the attacks' 25th anniversary.
- Where
- In and around Washington, D.C.; United Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.
- Why
- The pilots wanted to protect Washington from a possible hijacked aircraft after the Pentagon was attacked.
- Pilot
- Heather Penney, then a 26-year-old first lieutenant
- Military unit
- District of Columbia Air National Guard
- Flight leader
- Then-Colonel Marc Sasseville
- Aircraft
- F-16 fighter jets
- Weapons status
- The jets were not armed with missiles
- Flight 93
- The aircraft crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought the hijackers
- Later role
- Dan Caine, who later became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, flew to assist over Washington