Live Feeds
● LIVE Updated 2h ago · 12 sources tracked

Flydubai terrorist said to tell investigators he intended to crash plane into Ben Gurion Airport

Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly told investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he intended to crash a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight into Ben Gurion Airport. Sources indicate the suspect planned the attack for months, potentially before being hired by the airline, and aimed to fly normally before the crash. While some reports suggest a target of a Tel Aviv skyscraper, officials currently believe the co-pilot acted alone. The UAE had previously shared the pilots' names and nationalities with Israel prior to the flight.

🎙️

Listen to Live Briefing

Real-time synthesized voice briefing · Live Feeds Desk

⏱ ~3 min
Speed:
RSS Source map (12)
⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
Text size:
  • ✓ Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly planned to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv into Ben Gurion Airport.
  • ✓ The suspect is currently being questioned by investigators in the United Arab Emirates.
  • ✓ The UAE shared flight details with Israel, including the names and nationalities of the pilots.
  • ✓ Early indications from officials suggest the co-pilot acted alone.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 12 independent reporting domains (80% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Investigation details emerged regarding the suspect's stated intent to crash into Ben Gurion Airport and the timing of his planning.

Live updates

  1. Flydubai Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami Allegedly Planned Attack on Ben Gurion Airport

    Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly told investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he intended to crash a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight into Ben Gurion Airport. Sources indicate the suspect planned the attack for months, potentially before being hired by the airline, and aimed to fly normally before the crash. While some reports suggest a target of a Tel Aviv skyscraper, officials currently believe the co-pilot acted alone. The UAE had previously shared the pilots' names and nationalities with Israel prior to the flight.

    Why it matters

    The incident has raised questions regarding aviation security and the vetting process for flight crews. It highlights vulnerabilities in how personnel are cleared for international flights to high-security destinations.

    What is confirmed

    • Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly planned to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv into Ben Gurion Airport.
    • The suspect is currently being questioned by investigators in the United Arab Emirates.
    • The UAE shared flight details with Israel, including the names and nationalities of the pilots.
    • Early indications from officials suggest the co-pilot acted alone.

    Still unconfirmed

    • The suspect should not have been cleared to fly to Israel.

    What to watch next

    • Official confirmation of the suspect's motives from UAE or Israeli authorities
    • Details on the identity of the men who intervened to prevent the crash
    • Findings from the aviation security gap analysis mentioned by CNN
    Sources used for this update (12)
    1. AP News — Who are the mystery men who stepped in to keep the FlyDubai plane from crashing?
    2. The Times of Israel — Flydubai terrorist reportedly intended to slam plane into Tel Aviv skyscraper
    3. CNN — Alleged Flydubai hijacking attempt exposes worrying gaps in aviation security
    4. NBC News — Early indications suggest Flydubai co-pilot acted alone in attack, officials say
    5. bostonglobe.com — UAE had shared details about FlyDubai flight with Israel, including pilots’ names and nationalities
    6. www.abc.net.au — Flydubai pilot planned to crash plane into Ben Gurion airport, Israeli media reports - ABC News
    7. www.foxnews.com — Flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned to crash Israel-bound jet at Ben Gurion Airport
    8. www.cbsnews.com — FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into airport, shouldn't have been cleared to fly to Israel, sources say
    9. abcnews.com — FlyDubai suspected attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, sources say
    10. www.nbcnews.com — Flydubai pilot planned 9/11-style attack, source tells NBC News
    11. www.nbcmiami.com — Flydubai attacker had planned 9/11-style attack, source tells NBC News
    12. www.irishtimes.com — FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash into Israel’s Ben Gurion ...
    confidence 80%
📊

Community Sentiment: How do you assess this situation?

Voice your perspective · Real-time aggregated sentiment from the Live Feeds community