Hamam al-Hammami, the co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack and crash a Flydubai plane, reportedly wanted to crash into an Israeli airport. He is suspected of stabbing the captain of the Israel-bound flight before passengers and others stopped the attack.
Investigation into alleged plot
The Omani national reportedly researched airlines with routes to Tel Aviv and chose Flydubai. An Israeli source, cited by The Jerusalem Post, quotes al-Hammami as stating: "I tried to get hired by all the airlines. I planned the operation even before I was accepted by the company. The dream was to crash into Ben-Gurion Airport."
The co-pilot allegedly visited Israel in July to gather intelligence before the attack. The United Arab Emirates has said the co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit's crash axe and attempted to take control of the plane in a "terrorist attack". Airlines are generally required to carry crash axes in the cockpit in case of an emergency to break open a window to escape.
Background and hiring concerns
A regional official and a person familiar with the matter said the co-pilot had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views. The official said he was moved to an admin job at Oman Air. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. They gave no details about the alleged extremist views.
The co-pilot was later hired by UAE-based airline Flydubai, according to the source. It was not immediately clear to what extent the co-pilot was vetted. According to the Gulf diplomat, the co-pilot had undergone standard security checks before being hired, but it appears the checks focused on whether he had been convicted on criminal charges and didn't go deeper into examining his background for potential signs of radicalisation.
Investigation and response
The regional official added that security agencies from four regional countries were working to establish the co-pilot's motives, with help from the US and other Western governments. The Gulf diplomat said investigations were trying to establish whether the co-pilot acted alone or "has any connection with any extremist groups".
The regional official said the co-pilot was born in the UAE and his mother is Syrian. How he obtained Omani nationality was not immediately clear. Crew members rushed to the cockpit to steady Israel-bound flight FZ 1073, which was carrying 182 people, after it plummeted to 15,000 feet. The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.
UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash on Friday described the FlyDubai attack as a "dangerous terrorist act" in a post on X. He credited the flight captain for preventing a catastrophe.
Captain Smit Machchhar, who was wounded in the alleged attack, said he was fighting for his life, but realised if he didn't get up then passengers would lose their lives. He told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "I had so many wounds. I had fallen down. I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realised that if I didn't get up... then passengers would lose their lives."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that the attacker was arrested in Saudi Arabia. His motive for the attack was not immediately clear.
FlyDubai Chief Executive Officer, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: "I know there are many questions about what happened on board FZ 1073. A full official investigation, led by the relevant authorities and fully supported by flydubai, is underway. It is important that we allow this process to establish the facts.
"We are deeply grateful that everyone on board FZ 1073 is safe, and for the continued support of our customers, our people and our industry partners. Safety is, and always will be, our highest priority."
