UAE Reveals Details of Hijacking Attempt on Israel-Bound Flight

The United Arab Emirates disclosed on Friday that the co-pilot involved in the attempted hijacking of a passenger plane bound for Israel on September 30 had been planning a suicide attack inspired by the September 11 events. His intention was to crash the aircraft into a passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to inflict maximum casualties.

The UAE Attorney-General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, reported that investigators found evidence of a premeditated plot to take control of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The goal was to carry out a large-scale attack at Israel’s main airport.

This announcement offers the most detailed account so far regarding the foiled hijacking, which was stopped due to the efforts of the captain, the passengers, and the other pilots who fought back as the plane plummeted towards the ground over Saudi Arabia.

In a statement shared by the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency, Al Shamsi mentioned that the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, known as Hamam al-Hammami, had aimed to “seize control of the aircraft” to execute a suicide mission targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, intending to create as much havoc as possible.

Investigators traced Hammami’s radicalization back to 2017, during his studies in Melbourne, Australia, where he became engrossed in extremist literature and online propaganda glorifying terrorist acts.

During this time, he began to adopt takfiri ideology, which is a radical interpretation of Islam that labels other Muslims as apostates, gradually leading him toward violence and terrorism.

He reportedly drew inspiration from the attacks on September 11, 2001, with the notion of executing a similar operation using a commercial flight embedding itself in his mind. “His confession linked this to his decision to pursue a career in aviation,” the statement added.

This indicates that Hammami’s aspiration to become a pilot was not just about a career but part of a long-standing desire to commit a significant terrorist act.

The investigation also looked into his time in Australia, where he frequently attended a mosque associated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and met individuals connected to a religious center called My Centre.

According to Hammami’s account, this center was run by a Lebanese individual named Abu Hamza, who received backing from groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

However, investigators haven’t confirmed any involvement of Mohtadi or My Centre in Hammami’s radicalization or the hijacking plot. Notably, inflammatory statements attributed to Mohtadi were made years after Hammami’s time in Australia.

Hammami later pursued aviation training in the UK, where he attended the L3 Airline Academy from 2018 to 2019 and completed a distance-learning aviation degree at Buckinghamshire New University in 2023.

He started working for Oman Air in 2020 but faced scrutiny as radicalization concerns about him surfaced before the hijacking attempt. Reports indicated he was removed from flight training due to worries regarding his extremist views and reassigned to an administrative role.

Hammami’s online presence also raised alarms, with social media posts reflecting extremist beliefs and even endorsing violence against women. One particular profile associated with him displayed imagery linked to Al-Qaeda.

After the attempted hijacking, social media accounts matching Hammami’s identity posted content related to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former Al-Qaeda leader. It’s unclear if the posts were pre-scheduled or if someone else published them after the attack.

Despite earlier warning signs, the investigation determined that Hammami met all necessary professional and security criteria set by Flydubai, including holding a pilot’s license and passing required background checks. Al Shamsi noted that these checks did not reveal any signs of Hammami’s extremist views or intentions of carrying out a terrorist act.

It remains uncertain whether anyone communicated the concerns raised during Hammami’s prior employment to Flydubai or relevant security authorities.

Interestingly, Hammami directed his job search towards airlines flying to Tel Aviv, indicating a premeditated strategy for the attack. “I researched which airline flies to Tel Aviv. That’s why I chose flydubai,” he reportedly stated to investigators.

Additionally, he undertook reconnaissance flights to Tel Aviv, familiarizing himself with the route and the airport in preparation for his third flight on September 30, where he ultimately tried to execute his plan.

The preparation involved not only reconnaissance flights but also an increase in exposure to extremist propaganda and physical training meant to ready him psychologically for the operation. There were even reports that he considered an attack in July but abandoned it after befriending a crew member.

The incident on Flight FZ1073 involved over 170 passengers, primarily Israelis, as Hammami attempted to overpower the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, using an emergency axe while in the cockpit.

Despite suffering severe injuries, Machchhar defended himself and sought help. A second Flydubai captain, initially on board for a return flight, became suspicious after noticing the cockpit door’s unusual activity and intervened with the assistance of cabin crew and passengers.

Passengers, including Israeli Yaniv Hayun, played a critical role in restraining Hammami and helping regain control of the aircraft.

Ultimately, the crew diverted the plane to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, narrowly avoiding a situation reminiscent of September 11, as described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A forensic examination later confirmed that Machchhar’s injuries were consistent with the attack and had the potential to be fatal. Hammami later confessed in detail during questioning, claiming he acted alone, although the investigation is ongoing to explore any possible accomplices.

The UAE Public Prosecution continues to examine recordings, witness testimony, and other evidence, with further findings likely as the investigation develops.