Khalid al-Mihdhar

Khalid al-Mihdhar (b. May 16, 1975) was a hijacker on American Airlines Flight 77.

Background

Al-Mihdhar was born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia.^[1] Both Mihdhar and childhood friend, Nawaf al-Hazmi, went to Bosnia in 1995 to join the mujahadeen in the Bosnian War. Then, they traveled to Afghanistan where they joined the Taliban in fighting against the Northern Alliance. In Afghanistan, they also joined up with Al Qaeda, and were highly respected by Osama bin Laden.^[1]

In Spring 1999, when Osama bin Laden committed to the "planes" operation, Mihdhar was among the first group of participants selected for the plot and sent to the United States along with Nawaf al-Hazmi for pilot training. Mihdhar was so eager to participate in "jihad" operations in the United States, that he had already obtained a U.S. visa.^[1] Mihdhar obtained a one year B-1/B-2 (tourist/business) multiple-entry visa issued at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 7, 1999, one day after obtaining a new passport.^[2] Mihdhar listed the Los Angeles Sheraton as his intended destination.^[3] Once selected, both were sent to the Mes Aynak training camp in Afghanistan for elite training. Then, in late 1999, Hazmi went to Karachi in Pakistan to see Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who instructed them on western culture and travel. However, Mihdhar did not go with Hazmi to Karachi.^[1]

Malaysia summit

Main article: 2000 Malaysia summit

In early January 2000, Hazmi and Mihdhar traveled to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, where they met with Hambali and worked on planning the attacks. In Malaysia, they stayed with Yazid Sufaat, a Malaysian member of Jemaah Islamiyah, who provided accommodations at request of Hambali.

Mihdhar traveled to Malyasia, from Yemen on Yemeni Airlines Flight 802, with an overnight stay in Dubai at the Nihar Hotel. Mihdhar arrived in Dubai on January 4, and left the next day, joining Hazmi as well as Khallad and Abu Bara (two Yemenis). Mihdhar stayed in Malaysia for three days, meeting with other Al Qaeda operatives including some who were later involved in the USS Cole bombing. Mihdhar departed Kuala Lumpur on January 8, and traveled to Bangkok where they stayed for one week.

United States

On January 15, 2000, Mihdhar and Hazmi arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Bangkok, and were admitted as tourists for a six-month period.^[4] In spring 2000, Hazmi and Mihdhar took flying lessons in San Diego, California, but both spoke little English, did not do well with flying lessons, and eventually served as "muscle" hijackers.^[1]

Upon arriving, Mihdhar and Hazmi rented an apartment at the Parkwood Apartments complex in the Clairemont Mesa section of San Diego, California. Neighbors found the too men to be odd, in that they were at times picked up by limosines, carried briefcases, frequently were on their mobile phones, while on the other hand, they did not furnish their apartment. They were also seen playing flight simulator games.

In early May, Mihdhar and Hazmi went to Montgomery Field in San Diego, and signed up for flight lessons with the Sorbi Flying Club. They took one lesson on May 5, with Mihdhar flying for 42 minutes, and a second lesson on May 10. Neither did well with the flight lessons. Both spoke poor English, and they were both very impatient. They wanted to quickly learn to fly jets, "specifically Boeings," but were told they would have to start at a more basic level.

At the end of May, Hazmi and Mihdhar moved out of Parkwood Apartments. Hazmi found another place in nearby Lemon Grove, California, while Mihdhar decided to leave California and return to Yemen where he had family. Mihdhar was married and had two daughters. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the lead coordinator of the 9/11 plot, was enraged at Mihdhar for leaving without permission and leaving Hazmi behind. Mohammed wanted to drop Mihdhar from the plot, but Bin Laden insisted on keeping Mihdhar involved.

In early 2001, Mihdhar returned to Afghanistan where he may have helped coordinate the "muscle" hijackers. He went back to Saudi Arabia in early June 2001, and then returned to the United States on July 4, 2001. Mihdhar stayed in New Jersey in July and August, with Hanjour and other hijackers. They arrived in the Washington, D.C. area at the beginning of September 2001, where they made final preparations for the 9/11 attacks.

Timeline

2000

• January 15, 2000 - Following a meeting in the beginning of January with known OBL associate, al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi depart for the United States from Bangkok on United Airlines Flight 002, traveling through Hong Kong to Los Angeles International Aiport. al-Midhar came to the United States on a B-2 visitor visa.
• January 15, 2000 - al-Mihdhar also had reservations on United Airlines Flight 876 from Bangkok to Tokyo on Flight #890 which goes on to LAX. al-Mihdhar did not take this flight.
• January 15, 2000 - al-Hazmi and al-Midhar rent #150 (or 152) at Parkwood Apartments in San Diego.
• February 4, 2000 - al-Mihdhar opens Bank of America checking account and obtained a Visa card. He used the address of 6333 Mount Ada Road #150, San Diego (Parkwood Apartments) and said that he was a student.
• May 31, 2000 - al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar leave the apartment at Parkwood Apartments.
• June 20, 2000 - al-Mihdhar departed the United States, via LAX.
• February 25, 2000 - al-Mihdhar purchased a 1998 (or 1988) Toyota Corolla in San Diego, and had some repairs made to it at California Motor Works.
• February 28, 2000 - al-Mihdhar registered the Toyota Corolla, with the address 7091 Eckstrom Avenue in San Diego and had the car insured with Progressive Insurance Company through Huggy Bear Insurance Agency.
• March 20, 2000 - A call is made from his telephone number to al-Mihdhar's father-in-law.
• March 22, 2000 - Prescription written for al-Mihdhar by a doctor in San Diego.
• April 4, 2000 - Receives introductory flight instruction from the National Air College located at 3760 Glenn Curtis Road in San Diego. al-Mihdhar purchased the introductory flight lesson for Nawaf al-Hazmi.
• April 5 - Al-Mihdhar (along with Al-Hamzi) acquired a California driver’s license.^[4]
• April 5, 2000 - Obtains a California MVA photo ID, listing his Parkwood Apartments address. The phone number listed by al-Mihdhar was in Nawaf al-Hazmi's name. Al-Hazmi also obtains an ID on the same day.
• April 12, 2000 - al-Mihdhar purchase language instruction at Language Instruction Centrum for Nawaf al-Hazmi.
• April 19, 2000 - Nawaf al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar both obtain a California Driver's License.
• May 5, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar received flight training at Sorbi Flying Club in San Diego, with Nawaf receiving training at the same time. Al-Mihdhar flew the aircraft from Montgomery Field to Brown Field for over 42 minutes.
• May 8, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar purchase flying lessons for himself and al-Hazmi.
• May 10, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar and al-Hazmi take training flights together from the Sorbi Flying Club between Montgomery Field and Brown Field in San Diego. Al-Hazmi flew for 30 minutes and al-Mihdhar flew for 36 minutes.
• May 31, 2000 - al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar move from Parkwood Apartments to 8451 Mount Vernon Avenue in San Diego.
• June 2, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar transfers ownership of 1998 Toyota Corolla to Nawaf al-Hazmi.
• June 7, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar purchase airline ticket on Lufthansa Airlines for a flight from LAX to Frankfurt on June 10, 2000.
• June 10, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar departs the U.S. on Lufthansa Flight 457, and arrived in Frankfurt on June 11, 2000.
• June 10 - Al-Mihdhar left the United States against the wishes of the operational organizer of the plot, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He traveled to Yemen.^[4]
• June 13, 2000 - Al-Mihdhar had reservations on United Airlines Flight 5 departing LAX for Bangkok, via Tokyo, but he did not travel on this flight.

2001

June

• June 13 - Mihdhar applied for and received his second B-1/B-2 (tourist/business) visa in Jeddah. Mihdhar’s passport had been issued only 13 days earlier and, like up two other hijackers, it contained an indicator of possible terrorist affiliation still unknown at that time to U.S. intelligence officials. His application was incomplete. For example, he listed his occupation as “businessman,” but left blank the name and street address of his present employer. Mihdhar’s application also indicated that he had not previously applied for a U.S. visa or been to the United States, though he had in fact traveled to the United States on a B-1/B-2 visa issued in April 1999 (also in Jeddah). Thus, his application contained two false statements. However, the State Department’s computer system was not set up to catch these false statements by bringing up Mihdhar’s prior visa history. Mihdhar’s application was processed through the Visa Express program, and his application was submitted by Al Tayyar Travel. It is possible that these questions were answered falsely because of a mistake by the travel agency personnel; and unlike Ghamdi’s, Mihdhar’s application was signed only on the line for the “preparer” of the application. It is unclear why Mihdhar or the travel agency would wish to hide the fact of his prior travel. Mihdhar may have feared that it could compromise operational security of the 9/11 plot. He also may not have wanted to highlight that he had obtained a new passport since his previous visa. Consular officials have told the 9/11 Commission that evidence of the prior visas or travel to the United States actually would have reduced concern that the applicants were intending to immigrate. Thus, if the officers had learned the truth about these issues—and received an adequate explanation for the mistakes on the applications—they likely would have had no good reason to deny visas to these hijackers. On the other hand, if they had interviewed Mihdhar, Nami, and Ghamdi and received suspicious answers to their questions, the outcome might well have been different.^[4]

July

• July 4 - Mihdhar reentered the United States at JFK Airport. He was on no watchlist, though he should have been watchlisted in January 2000. He was admitted as a business visitor for three months—the standard at JFK for a business entry. Mihdhar had put on his visa application that he would be staying at a Marriott, but instead he spent a night at a different hotel in New York City.^[4]
• July 10 - Mihdhar, Nawaf al Hazmi, and Omari acquired USA identification cards.^[4] The address used "161 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY" is for the Ramada Inn Eastside.
• July 13 - A registration card found for Mihdhar at the Congress Inn in South Hackensack, New Jersey, indicates that he stayed there on this date.
• July 15 - 22 - listed as renter of room 225 at the Wayne Inn in South Wayne, New Jersey
• July 16 - Two cash withdrawals
• July 18 - Mihdhar opened bank account at the Totowa, New Jersey branch of Hudson United Bank, using the address of 859 Main Street, Apt. 179, Paterson, NJ and providing a telephone number for the Wayne Inn.

August

• August 1 - ATM withdrawal of $101.50 at 3337 E. Glen Carlyn Drive in Falls Church, Virginia at 9:57 p.m.
• August 1 - Fraudulently obtained Virginia driver's license, along with Hani Hanjour, at DMV office at 4150 S. Four Mile Run Drive in Arlington, Virginia. Also with him were Ahmed al-Ghamdi, Majed Moqed, and Abdulaziz al-Omari.^[4]
• August 6 - Cash withdrawal of $20 at Hudson United Bank in Totowa, New Jersey
• August 24 - $14.45 debit card purchase at Super Supermarket in Paterson, New Jersey at 5:22 p.m.
• August 24 - Mihdhar establishes profile on American Airlines website, giving the address 859 Main St., Paterson, NJ, 07503
• August 25 - Balance inquiry and attempt to withdraw cash at Hudson United Bank. Salem al-Hazmi is present with Mihdhar, when he makes the inquiry at 6:30 - 6:45 p.m.
• August 25 - Payment for International drivers license for Abdulaziz al-Omari at All Services Plus
• August 25 - Reservations booked on American Airlines Flight 77 for Mihdhar and Moqed, using Moqed's credit card. Moqed provided his address as 4423 Lehigh Road #126, College Park, Maryland. Once the reservations were made, the tickets were not mailed out because the shipment address did not match the billing address.
• August 29 - ATM withdrawal of $100 from Hudson United Bank in Paterson, New Jersey at 3:54 p.m., and another withdrawal of $60 at 6:10 p.m.
• August 31 - Closed account at Hudson United Bank, writing check to himself in the amount of $2,861.30. The check was likely cashed by Mihdhar. Nawaf al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour were with Mihdhar.

September

• September 1 - $40 ATM withdrawal made in Paterson, New Jersey from First Union account. Hani Hanjour was present with Mihdhar.
• September 2 - Mihdhar, Hanjour, and Moqed check in to the Gold's Gym in Greenbelt, Maryland. Ziad Jarrah also worked out at this gym, though did not sign in.
• September 3 - Nawaf al-Hazmi, Majed Moqed, Hani Hanjour, and Khalid al-Mihdhar signed into Gold's Gym in Greenbelt
• September 3 - Refund for return of Timberland shoes at The Shoe Department
• September 5 - Changed address on the First Union account to 14625 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland (Mail Boxes Etc.)
• September 5 - Mihdhar, Hanjour, and Nawaf al-Hazmi sign into the Gold's Gym in Greenbelt
• September 5 - Mihdhar and Moqed appear in person at the Baltimore/Washington International Airport to purchase/pay for two tickets for American Airlines Flight 77. They paid $2,300 in cash for the tickets.
• September 6 - Signed into Gold's Gym in Greenbelt
• September 7 - Cash deposit into First Union Bank account at 12:07 p.m.
• September 8 - Two check card purchases at the Food Factory in College Park, at 7:35 p.m. Another check card purchase was made at Shoppers Food Warehouse in College Park.
• September 9 - Check card purchase at Giant Food in Greenbelt, for $57.60, and at the Food Factory at 7:19 p.m. for the amount of $13.13. Mihdhar was accompanied by Nawaf al-Hazmi, who also made a purchase, as well as by Salem al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour.
• September 9 - Two vinyl bags left, and later found after 9/11, at the Ayah Islamic Center in Laurel, Maryland. One of the bags contained two Jeppesen pilot logbooks with the names "Khalid al-Mihdhar" and "Nawaf" printed in the books. The books indicated flight training taken in San Diego, including flights in May 2000 at Montgomery Field and Brown Field. A receipt, dated May 4, 2000, was also found for purchase by Mihdhar of two aviation headsets, one Jeppesen aviation chart kit, one Jeppesen log book, and one San Diego Terminal area chart.
• September 10 - Three separate deposits totaling $7,500 posted to First Union account. Also made two $100 ATM withdrawals and two account inquiries at 14817 Baltimore Avenue, in Laurel. Check written in the amount of $20. The account remained open, with a balance of $10,006.19.
• September 10 - A review of security camera footage indicated that Mihdhar and possibly Salem al-Hazmi visited Dulles International Airport

Still alive?

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, some news reports showed a picture of Khalid Al-Mihammadi, a computer programmer from Mecca, in place of Khalid al-Mihdhar's picture. Mihammadi had been in the United States to study English in Florida, and in Indiana.^[5] One story, published by the BBC on September 23, indicated that Mihdhar was possibly still alive.^[6] In 2006, in response to 9/11 conspiracy theories surrounding its original news story, the BBC claimed that confusion arose with the common Arabic names, and that its later reports on the hijackers superseded its original story.^[7]

Images

Khalid al-Mihdhar

Khalid al-Mihdhar

Khalid al-Mihdhar

Mihdhar's visa

References