Reuters–A U.S. judge ruled that AMR Corp's American Airlines andUnited Continental Holdings Inc must face trial over claimsrelating to the Sept. 11 attacks that destroyed the landmark towersof the World Trade Center in New York almost 11 years ago, courtdocuments showed.

In July 2001, two months before the attacks, World Trade CenterProperties LLC (WTCP) bought 99-year leases to four World TradeCenter buildings from the Port Authority of New York and New JerseyInc for $2.805 billion.

In its lawsuit against United Airlines and American Airlines,WTCP said that had it not been for the airlines' negligence, “theterrorists could not have boarded and hijacked the aircraft andflown them into the twin towers,” on Sept. 11, 2001, according aNew York court filing.

The company claimed damages of $8.4 billion from the airlines,the estimated cost of replacing the towers.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein limited the value of WTCP's destroyedproperty to $2.805 billion, the price WTCP paid for the leases.

The defendants denied they were negligent, and said the caseshould not go to trial because WTCP has recovered $4.091 billionfrom insurance companies.

Judge Hellerstein said at this stage he could not reasonablydetermine the defendants' claim that insurance payments received byWTCP covered the damages the company is seeking from them.

“On this record, before trial, I am not able to make suchfindings,” Judge Hellerstein said in a court filing.

The case is in re Sept. 11 litigation, Case No. 21-MC-101, U.S.District Court, Southern District of New York.