The co-pilot accused of assaulting the captain of a flydubai flight last week had planned to deliberately crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv’s international airport, according to the United Arab Emirates’ top prosecutor on Friday.
In the wake of the incident, passengers—most of whom were Israeli—described a sudden loss of altitude and a intense struggle for control of the aircraft, which diverted for an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The individuals on board were subsequently repatriated on a replacement flydubai flight several hours later.
The Omani co-pilot, who remains in custody in the UAE, was inspired by Al-Qaeda’s September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and executed his plot “with the intent to cause maximum casualties,” as stated in the Emirati prosecutor’s findings released by state media.
The investigation revealed that the co-pilot began radicalizing while studying in Australia, “through the consumption of extremist literature and engagement with online content that glorified terrorist organizations and suicide missions.”
Officials noted that the flight in question was the co-pilot’s third journey to Tel Aviv, and he had utilized the previous trips to orchestrate the attack.
During the flight, the suspect employed an emergency axe to assault the plane’s Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who resisted and attempted to summon assistance.
Another pilot on the return flight, who was also aboard, “observed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an abnormal pattern,” according to the official findings.
Upon gaining access, this pilot “intervened with help from a cabin crew member and several passengers, successfully rescuing the injured captain and subduing the suspect.”
The captain and co-pilot of the return flight then safely landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
No Indications of Extremist Intentions
Israel and the UAE have fostered close diplomatic relations since normalizing ties through the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, with Israel implementing rigorous security protocols for travelers to the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that the co-pilot, identified in reports as Hamam al-Hammami, circumvented restrictions that prevent citizens from nations not recognizing Israel from operating flights there.
The UAE prosecutor’s “findings indicated that the individual met all professional and security criteria for employment, including possession of a valid pilot’s license, a certificate of good conduct, and completion of mandatory background checks.”
“However, none of the screening processes uncovered any signs of his extremist beliefs or intentions to execute a terrorist act.”
The co-pilot had prior experience with Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, but media reports following the incident suggested he had been disqualified from flying in Oman due to concerns over his extremist views.
Following the event, Netanyahu commended the passengers and the aircraft’s captain for their bravery in preventing what could have been a devastating disaster.
He subsequently directed a “comprehensive review of all security measures concerning foreign civil aviation to Israel” in response to the occurrence.
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