Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide crash into Ben Gurion airport

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 19:55 · Archive

A Flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and planned to crash the aircraft into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack.

An Omani co-pilot attacked the captain of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September and had planned to crash the plane into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, according to statements from the United Arab Emirates' attorney general released on Friday.

The co-pilot, identified as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami, intended to cause 'the greatest possible loss of life' in an attack inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The investigation found that he had used two previous flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the flight route and airport.

Al-Hammami had worked for several airlines including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc before joining Flydubai in January 2026. The UAE's findings showed that he met all professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot's licence, providing a certificate of good conduct, and completing necessary background checks. According to the prosecutor's statement, 'None of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot'.

During the attack on 30 September, al-Hammami attacked the captain, an Indian national, with an axe. The captain was injured but managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker. Passengers described rushing the cockpit and struggling to regain control after the aircraft suddenly descended around 5,000 metres. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Most of the 174 passengers on board were Israeli. According to the New York Post, al-Hammami admitted he had acted alone and provided a detailed confession outlining his motives and planning stages in the presence of his lawyer. The outlet also reports that he may have been radicalised at a mosque in Australia whilst attending the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2017.

On Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog awarded the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism to six Israelis who helped foil the attempted hijacking. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passengers and the pilot for their bravery and ordered a 'thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel'.

How it is being reported

• Flydubai co-pilot was inspired by 9/11 when he planned to crash into Israeli airport terminal: officialsFlydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami reportedly “drew inspiration” from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and used two previous flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv to “familiarize himself with the flight route and the airport.”New York Post · 9 Oct, 19:53
• Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack in Tel Aviv airport inspired by 9/11The Omani co-pilot was previously barred from flying in Oman over extremist views.Euronews · 9 Oct, 19:29
• UAE: Omani Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attackA Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight into the terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, according to a UAE official.DW News · 9 Oct, 19:23
• 🔴 FlyDubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport, inspired by 9/11, UAE prosecutor saysFrance 24 · 9 Oct, 18:09
• Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash aircraft into Ben Gurion airport, UAE saysThe UAE attorney general has said the alleged hijacker of a flydubai plane planned to crash into Israel's Ben Gurion airport.Sky News · 9 Oct, 17:30

In this story: Hamam al-Hammami · Flydubai · Ben Gurion Airport · Israel · United Arab Emirates · Oman

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem