A U.S. military judge has scheduled the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed for June 5, 2028. Mohammed is accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The trial date arrives nearly 27 years after the tragic events where hijackers crashed commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon. A fourth plane went down in Pennsylvania, resulting in almost 3,000 deaths.

Air Force Lt. Col. Michael A. Schrama turned down the prosecutors’ suggested start date of January 11, 2027. He said the proposal conflicted with unresolved pretrial issues. The judge emphasized the need for adequate time to address evidentiary and compliance motions. This includes deciding whether to suppress certain FBI-documented statements.

Mohammed will stand trial alongside Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi. These individuals are also accused of involvement in the plans. They are detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Prosecutors claim Mohammed devised and executed the plan to hijack aircraft to hit major U.S. sites. Authorities caught him in Pakistan in March 2003 and moved him to Guantánamo Bay in 2006.

The trial date follows a collapsed plea deal. Mohammed could have confessed to receive life imprisonment without parole, avoiding a potential death penalty trial.

The court order outlines steps leading to jury selection on June 5, 2028. Yet, the schedule depends on meeting deadlines. Thus, additional delays might occur.