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Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned 9/11-Style Attack on Ben Gurion Airport, Chose Airline for Israel Route
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News18•05-10-2026, 09:56
Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned 9/11-Style Attack on Ben Gurion Airport, Chose Airline for Israel Route
- •Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly planned to crash a Flydubai aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport in a 9/11-style attack, according to UAE investigators.
- •Al-Hammami reportedly intended to kill Captain Smit Machchhar, secure landing clearances, and then crash the plane into a building or aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport.
- •He allegedly chose Flydubai specifically because it operated flights to Tel Aviv, planning the attack before joining the airline.
- •The plot was foiled when Captain Machchhar survived the initial assault with a cockpit crash axe and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene.
- •The incident raises serious questions about pilot vetting, information sharing between aviation authorities, and security arrangements for foreign civil aviation.
Key Questions Answered
Hamam al-Hammami allegedly planned to crash the Flydubai aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport in a 9/11-style attack, or alternatively into a Tel Aviv skyscraper or a US military base in Jordan.
Captain Machchhar survived the initial axe assault, managed to open the cockpit door, and allowed passengers, crew, and two off-duty pilots to restrain the attacker and land safely in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Hammami selected Flydubai because the airline operated regular commercial flights to Tel Aviv, matching his pre-planned objective to target Israel.
