The area near Shanksville, Pennsylvania is important because it is the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The passengers and crew heroically fought back against the hijackers, preventing the plane from reaching its intended target, which is believed to have been the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, killing all on board. This site is now commemorated by the Flight 93 National Memorial as a tribute to their bravery and sacrifice.