Stories
Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned 9/11-Style Attack at Tel Aviv Airport, Chose Airline for Israel Route!
- •Omani co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami allegedly planned a 9/11-style attack to crash a Flydubai plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
- •Investigators claim Al-Hammami intended to kill Captain Smit Machhar in the cockpit, then crash the plane into a building or another aircraft.
- •He specifically chose Flydubai because it operated flights to Tel Aviv, planning the attack before joining the airline.
- •Al-Hammami reportedly waited until the plane reached Jordanian airspace to launch the attack, minimizing time for detection.
- •The plot was foiled when Captain Machhar, despite being injured, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker.
Key Questions Answered
According to UAE investigator reports, Omani co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami planned a 9/11-style attack to deliberately crash a Flydubai flight into Ben Gurion Airport, a high-rise building in Tel Aviv, or a US military base in Jordan. He specifically chose Flydubai because the airline operated routes to Tel Aviv.
The plot was foiled after Indian Captain Smit Machhar survived the initial cockpit attack with a crash axe, and despite serious injuries, managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers, crew members, and two off-duty pilots then rushed in to subdue the attacker, allowing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Revelations showed that the 29-year-old co-pilot had previously been banned from flying in Oman due to concerns about extremist ideologies stemming from his time with Oman Air. This sparked serious questions regarding pilot vetting procedures, background checks, and international information sharing among aviation authorities.
