UAE prosecutors: Flydubai attacker aimed to hit Tel Aviv airport terminal
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said a Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash a passenger jet into a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. The suspect, an Omani national, was reportedly inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks and had taken prior flights on the route. The September 30 attack ended with an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the captain and others subdued him.
UAE prosecutors allege that a 29-year-old Omani Flydubai co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, sought to commandeer a 182-passenger jet and strike Ben Gurion Airport’s terminal near Tel Aviv. They say he cited the 2001 U.S. attacks as inspiration and had flown the Dubai–Tel Aviv route twice beforehand to study it.
During the Sept. 30 flight, he struck Indian captain Smit Machchhar with an axe. Despite wounds, Machchhar opened the cockpit door; passengers and crew subdued the attacker as the plane fell thousands of feet. Two reserve pilots then flew it to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Prosecutors say al-Hammami confessed and described his plans with counsel present.
The alleged plot may heighten concerns among travelers and aviation staff on Middle East routes, potentially prompting reviews of cockpit security and crew training. Israeli and Emirati authorities could face pressure to deepen counterterrorism cooperation, while passengers may experience stricter screening or route adjustments. The case may also affect public trust in regional aviation, though the successful restraint and landing could reinforce confidence in crew response.