Last month, authorities in the United Arab Emirates revealed that the co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv, armed with an axe, had a sinister plan to take control of the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Israel’s main international airport. The Omani national intended to cause mass casualties among the predominantly Israeli passengers on board, drawing inspiration from the 9/11 attacks. The co-pilot had meticulously studied the flight route and the airport during two previous flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The UAE’s top prosecutor stated that the co-pilot acted alone and confessed to his motives and planning stages, indicating a radicalization link to a mosque in Australia. FlyDubai’s security checks did not detect any extremist inclinations in the 29-year-old pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami by The Associated Press.
The dramatic incident unfolded above Jordan and Saudi Arabia when the co-pilot attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, with a crash axe in the cockpit. Despite sustaining injuries, Machchhar managed to alert the passengers and crew, who detained the assailant and assisted in stabilizing the aircraft that rapidly descended. Thanks to the swift actions of the crew and passengers, the plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, averting a potential catastrophe.
This update from the public prosecutor offers the most detailed account of the investigation since the incident occurred on September 30. FlyDubai, a government-owned airline, faced this harrowing ordeal, highlighting the challenges and risks faced in aviation security.