US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein has ruled that United Airlines cannot be held responsible for the hijacking of an American Airlines flight and the collapse of a third building, 7 World Trade Centre, after the twin towers fell in the September 11 2001 attacks.
The judge found that the airline had no connection to American Airlines Flight 11 or its hijackers other than sharing responsibility for a security checkpoint in Portland, Maine, that screened two of the terrorists Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari, who had passed through the Portland airport on their way to Boston, Massachusetts, where they boarded Flight 11.
The owners of 7 World Trade Centre, Silverstein Properties, has sued United and other various aviation defendants, for negligence which led to the building's destruction. The building was hit by debris from the falling twin towers that caused fires that led to the building’s eventual collapse.
The plaintiffs have expressed their disappointment by the ruling but are continuing with another lawsuit against United over security lapses that led terrorists to hijack United Flight 175.
Judge clears United Airlines for 9/11 attacks
