FlyDubai Co-Pilot Planned to Crash Into Israeli Airport, U.A.E. Says

United Arab Emirates officials have revealed that a FlyDubai co-pilot, identified as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, intended to crash a passenger aircraft into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack inspired by the September 11 attacks. During the September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot attacked the captain with a cockpit axe but was eventually overpowered by crew and passengers. The aircraft, carrying over 170 people, was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Investigations suggest the suspect was radicalized while studying in Australia and had previously been barred from flying by Oman Air due to his extremist views, though he cleared FlyDubai’s standard security checks.

United Arab Emirates officials have revealed that a FlyDubai co-pilot, identified as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, intended to crash a passenger aircraft into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack inspired by the September 11 attacks. During the September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot attacked the captain with a cockpit axe but was eventually overpowered by crew and passengers. The aircraft, carrying over 170 people, was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Investigations suggest the suspect was radicalized while studying in Australia and had previously been barred from flying by Oman Air due to his extremist views, though he cleared FlyDubai’s standard security checks.