World · Middle East · 2 days ago
UAE says Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport
A Flydubai passenger plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when its co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe.
Passengers subdued the co-pilot and helped steady the aircraft, which landed safely at an airport in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE’s top prosecutor says the co-pilot planned to take control and crash the plane into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport.
Prosecutors say he was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks and had taken two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to learn the route and airport.
They say he confessed to acting alone, but investigations are continuing to check whether anyone else was involved.
The UAE says routine security and professional checks had not revealed signs of extremist views or attack plans.
The case has raised questions about how he was able to join the flight crew, and the investigation is continuing.
UAE prosecutors said the Flydubai co-pilot planned to seize control of a flight to Tel Aviv and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport.
The suspect, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with a crash axe during the flight.
Passengers and crew helped restrain the suspect and steady the aircraft; it made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The UAE prosecutor said al-Hammami drew inspiration from the September 11, 2001 attacks and had used two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to learn the route and airport.
Prosecutors said al-Hammami confessed to acting alone, while investigations continued to verify that claim.
- Who
- Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, the flight’s captain, Smit Machchhar, and the passengers and crew
- What
- An attempted takeover of a passenger flight, which UAE prosecutors say was intended to end in an attack on Ben Gurion airport
- When
- September 30, 2026; the UAE prosecutor issued an update on October 9, 2026
- Where
- A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv; the emergency landing was at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia
- Why
- UAE prosecutors say the suspect was inspired by the September 11 attacks and intended to cause the greatest possible loss of life
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
He admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others
with the intention of causing the greatest possible number of human casualties
premeditated terrorist plot to … launch a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life
UAE prosecutors said al-Hammami began to be radicalised while studying in Australia.
According to UAE prosecutors, al-Hammami took two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and airport.
Al-Hammami attacked the captain during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight; passengers and crew intervened, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The UAE prosecutor released a detailed account of the alleged plan and said the suspect had confessed to acting alone.
- Airline
- Flydubai, described as a government-owned airline
- Suspect
- Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot
- Intended target
- The passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv
- Emergency landing
- Tabuk airport, Saudi Arabia
- Flight passengers
- The Hindu reports 174 passengers; the Guardian describes about 180 passengers.
Sources
flydubai co-pilot intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, UAE prosecutor says
UAE says Flydubai suspect intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport
Flydubai 'hijacker' who stabbed co-pilot 'planned to crash aircraft into Ben Gurion airport', UAE claims
Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Israeli airport, UAE prosecutors say
Flydubai co-pilot planned 9/11-style attack on Tel Aviv airport, UAE says
Flydubai co-pilot plotted ‘suicide’ attack on Israel, UAE says
Attacker in FlyDubai Flight Meant to Crash Into Israeli Airport, Emiratis Say
UAE confirms flydubai copilot was planning 9/11-style ‘suicide attack’ on Ben Gurion Airport
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Co-pilot's attack on FlyDubai flight aimed at mass casualties, UAE says
Vereinigte Arabische Emirate: Wie 9/11: Vereitelter Flydubai-Absturz war laut Ermittlern geplanter Selbstmordanschlag mit klarem Ziel
Flydubai co-pilot planned terrorist attack at Tel Aviv airport
Beinahe-Katastrophe: VAE: Flydubai-Copilot wollte Flughafen in Tel Aviv treffen
Copiloto de Flydubai planeaba un atentado en Israel inspirado por el 11S: Emiratos Árabes Unidos
FlyDubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport, inspired by 9/11, prosecutor says
Omani Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Israeli airport, UAE says
11. September als Vorbild: Ermittler: Flydubai-Copilot plante Anschlag auf Flughafen Tel Aviv
Omani flydubai co-pilot planned 911-style suicide attack on Israel flight, says UAE
UAE says Omani flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv flight
الإمارات: تحقيقات رحلة فلاي دبي تكشف مخطط مساعد الطيار لعملية انتحارية بتل أبيب
FlyDubai co-pilot sought to crash plane into Tel Aviv's main airport: UAE
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