Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have revealed that the co-pilot who attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight on September 30 was executing a “suicide” mission designed to crash the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi stated during a press briefing on Friday that the plot drew inspiration from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
The investigation, launched by Emirati prosecutors on October 1, uncovered that the 29-year-old suspect utilized two prior flights to Tel Aviv to study the route and familiarize himself with the target airport. According to WAM, the state news agency, the attorney general provided the most detailed account to date of the alleged terrorist plot.
Al-Shamsi noted that the suspect had worked for multiple carriers across different nations, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, before joining Flydubai in January. An examination of recruitment records confirmed the pilot met all professional and security standards, holding a valid license and a certificate of good conduct. However, investigators found no indicators of his extremist leanings or intent during the screening process.
While UAE officials have not publicly named the suspect, Reuters and the Associated Press, citing individuals with direct knowledge of the case, identified him as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. The suspect is accused of stabbing Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain of the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, which carried 174 people.
The attorney general disclosed that the suspect confessed to acting alone, providing a detailed account of his motives and planning stages in the presence of his lawyer. Investigators also learned that Al-Hammami prepared for the attack psychologically and physically, reportedly consuming terrorism-promoting material and taking boxing lessons. His drift toward extremism was said to have begun in 2017 while he was studying in Australia.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:05 am local time on September 30 when Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai for Tel Aviv at an altitude of 34,000 feet. Two hours into the journey, the aircraft began a steep descent, dropping more than 17,000 feet in roughly two minutes according to Flightradar24 data. A struggle ensued in the cockpit after the co-pilot attacked the captain.
Captain Machchhar later recounted being seriously wounded on the cockpit floor as the plane descended. Passengers and crew eventually entered the cockpit area and subdued the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to stabilize at around 15,000 feet. The transponder was switched to code 7500, indicating unlawful interference.
Two reserve pilots aboard the flight took control and safely landed the jet in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, at 9:45 am local time. Saudi authorities confirmed that both pilots were hospitalized and subsequently transferred to Abu Dhabi after being cleared medically.
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