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● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 23 sources tracked

Flydubai pilot planned a 9/11-style attack on Tel Aviv airport, source says

An Israel-bound Flydubai flight was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia following a cockpit assault by the co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Interrogators in the United Arab Emirates revealed that the co-pilot planned to kill the captain, fly the aircraft normally, and crash it into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or a building in a 9/11-style attack. Passengers and crew successfully subdued the attacker after a cockpit axe assault triggered an 18,000-foot dive and severe in-flight chaos. Israel was prepared to shoot down the plane following the hijack signal.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ An Israel-bound Flydubai flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a cockpit attack by a co-pilot.
  • ✓ The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
  • ✓ The Omani national had plotted the attack before he was hired by the airline.
  • ✓ Passengers and crew subdued the attacker after the assault triggered an 18,000-foot dive.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 23 independent reporting domains (95% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~3 min

What changed

Authorities confirmed the attack was a premeditated 11-September-style plot targeting Tel Aviv rather than an isolated mid-air dispute.

Live updates

  1. Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned 9/11-Style Attack on Israel

    An Israel-bound Flydubai flight was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia following a cockpit assault by the co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Interrogators in the United Arab Emirates revealed that the co-pilot planned to kill the captain, fly the aircraft normally, and crash it into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or a building in a 9/11-style attack. Passengers and crew successfully subdued the attacker after a cockpit axe assault triggered an 18,000-foot dive and severe in-flight chaos. Israel was prepared to shoot down the plane following the hijack signal.

    Why it matters

    The incident has placed intense scrutiny on aviation security measures and airline hiring practices, given that the attacker was part of a rapid pilot hiring spree. Investigators are scrutinizing the co-pilot's flight training history in Britain and New Zealand. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump stated he believes Iran was responsible for the attack.

    What is confirmed

    • An Israel-bound Flydubai flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a cockpit attack by a co-pilot.
    • The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
    • The Omani national had plotted the attack before he was hired by the airline.
    • Passengers and crew subdued the attacker after the assault triggered an 18,000-foot dive.
    • Israel was prepared to shoot down the Flydubai plane following the attack on the captain.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Donald Trump stated that he thinks Iran was responsible for the Flydubai attack.

    What to watch next

    • Results from the ongoing international investigations into the co-pilot's training in Britain and New Zealand.
    • Official security audits or policy changes regarding cockpit access across regional airlines.
    Sources used for this update (27)
    1. Reuters — Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after brawl between pilots, Israeli official says
    2. news.sbs.co.kr — Flydubai Pilot: 'I Realized Passengers Would Lose Their Lives If I Didn't Get Up'
    3. WSJ — Multiple Security Failures Allowed FlyDubai Pilot Into Cockpit
    4. CBS News — Hero passenger on FlyDubai flight: "I decided that we are going to survive"
    5. Reuters — Co-pilot planned flydubai attack before hired by airline, two Israeli officials say
    6. www.foxnews.com — Flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned to crash Israel-bound jet at Ben Gurion Airport
    7. CBS News — Israel was prepared to shoot down FlyDubai plane after attack on captain, sources say
    8. CNN — Alleged Flydubai hijacker likely wanted to target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, sources say
    9. www.bbc.com — Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say
    10. USA Today — Trump says he thinks Iran was responsible for Flydubai attack
    11. www.yahoo.com — Co-pilot planned flydubai attack before joining airline, two Israeli officials say
    12. www.straitstimes.com — Flydubai co-pilot’s chilling 9/11-style plan: Kill captain, fly normally – then crash at Ben Gurion
    confidence 95%
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