Mohamed Atta was the ringleader of the September 11 attacks, an Egyptian terrorist, and hijacker for al-Qaeda. Ideologically a pan-Islamist, Atta was the hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, which he flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In late 1999, Atta and key members traveled to Afghanistan, where they met Osama bin Laden. They were selected and recruited by bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to execute the operational plot inside the United States. Mohamed Atta first entered the United States on June 3, 2000. He flew from Prague to Newark International Airport in New Jersey on a tourist visa. Shortly after his arrival, he moved to Florida to begin flight training