5 hrs ago
Al Qaeda Praises Flydubai Attack and Urges Copycat Hijackings
A publication supporting Al Qaeda praised an attempt to take over a Flydubai plane and called for more attacks on certain aircraft.
It referred to both the September 11 attacks and the September 30 incident.
During the flight, the co-pilot attacked the captain in the cockpit.
Reports describe the weapon differently: one says it was an emergency axe, while another says the captain was stabbed.
The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew then entered and stopped the co-pilot.
The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Authorities are investigating, and the UAE classified the attack as terrorism.
A pro-Al Qaeda publication called for attacks on aircraft carrying Americans, Israelis and others it described as enemies of Islam.
The publication invoked the September 11 attacks and the September 30 attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073; its call appeared on October 2.
Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit; reports differ on whether the weapon was described as an emergency crash axe or stabbing.
Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and subdue al-Hammami; the plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE is leading the investigation, and its Attorney General classified the assault as a terrorist attack; Israeli officials also described it as terrorism.
- Who
- Al-Bayan, a pro-Al Qaeda publication, issued the call; the flight incident involved co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami and Captain Smit Machchhar.
- What
- The publication praised the attempted takeover of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 and called for copycat attacks on aircraft.
- Where
- The incident occurred aboard a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv; the aircraft later landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The attempted hijacking occurred on September 30, and the call appeared on October 2; the year is not stated.
- Why
- The publication urged attacks on aircraft carrying people it described as enemies of Islam.
Reported accounts
Unresolved questions
Weapon used in the cockpit attack
Reported accounts
One report says al-Hammami struck Machchhar with an emergency crash axe.
Unresolved questions
Another report describes the attack as stabbing the captain; the accounts do not resolve the difference.
Social media activity after the incident
Reported accounts
Posts appeared on al-Hammami's LinkedIn and Instagram accounts about nine hours after the incident, when he was reportedly in custody.
Unresolved questions
It remains unclear who uploaded the posts or whether they had been scheduled earlier.
Reported concerns about the co-pilot
Reported accounts
A report citing people familiar with the matter said Oman had previously barred him from flying over concerns about alleged radical views.
Unresolved questions
It remains unclear whether Oman shared its concerns with other countries or airlines, and what the alleged radicalisation involved.
Key facts
- Publication
- Al-Bayan, a weekly publication launched in July by pro-Al Qaeda sympathisers
- Call for attacks
- Appeared October 2; year not stated
- Flight
- Flydubai Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Attempted takeover
- Reported to have occurred on September 30
- Incident altitude
- 33,000 feet, according to one report
- Landing
- Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia
- Investigation
- The UAE is leading the investigation; the UAE Attorney General classified the assault as a terrorist attack
Quotes
Smit Machchhar
Indian captain of the Flydubai flight who was attacked in the cockpit
“The war isn’t over yet — planes carrying Zionists, Americans and all the other infidels fighting against Islam are still hovering in the skies and can be targeted, as happened on September 11th and 30th.”
businesstoday.in
“I had that one last fight left in me. If I don't do it, I'm gonna die.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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