Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building

   The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv planned to crash the plane into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport or a building in Tel Aviv, according to reports. The Omani national, Hamam al-Hammami, was a 'lone wolf' extremist who intended to avenge Gaza and die as a martyr. The incident was averted when passengers, off-duty pilots, and crew intervened.

   Why it matters

   The attempted hijacking occurred on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, highlighting security concerns and potential vulnerabilities in the airline industry. The incident has sparked investigations and raised questions about the screening and clearance processes for airline personnel. The UAE and Israeli authorities are cooperating in the investigation.

   What is confirmed

   • The co-pilot planned to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or a tower block in the Israeli city.
   • The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, was a 'lone wolf' extremist who intended to avenge Gaza and die as a martyr.
   • The co-pilot had flown to Israel twice before.
   • The incident was averted when passengers, off-duty pilots, and crew intervened.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The co-pilot planned to secretly kill the captain and shut down the aircraft's engines before crashing the plane.

   What to watch next

   • Further investigation into the co-pilot's background and potential connections to extremist groups
   • Review of security protocols and screening processes for airline personnel
   • UAE and Israeli authorities' response to the incident and implementation of new security measures
   Sources used for this update (22)

   1. WSJ — Multiple Security Failures Allowed FlyDubai Pilot Into Cockpit
   2. Bloomberg.com — FlyDubai Co-Pilot Was Failed Student at Australian University
   3. Reuters — Co-pilot planned flydubai attack before hired by airline, two Israeli officials say
   4. NPR — FlyDubai attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, ongoing investigation finds
   5. www.foxnews.com — Flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned to crash Israel-bound jet at Ben Gurion Airport
   6. BBC — Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into airport, reports suggest
   7. www.cbsnews.com — FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into airport, shouldn't have been cleared to fly to Israel, sources say
   8. www.bbc.com — Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say
   9. abcnews.com — FlyDubai suspected attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, sources say
   10. www.jpost.com — Flydubai hijacker planned to crash into Tel Aviv skyscraper
   11. www.indiatoday.in — Flydubai attack: engines may have stopped during 18,000-foot nosedive, expert says - India Today
   12. www.deccanherald.com — Flydubai cockpit attack: Omani co-pilot wanted to avenge Gaza and die martyr
   confidence 85%