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Flydubai Plane Crash Plot: Omani Pilot Targeted Ben Gurion, US Bases; Captain Foiled Attack
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News18•05-10-2026, 09:03
Flydubai Plane Crash Plot: Omani Pilot Targeted Ben Gurion, US Bases; Captain Foiled Attack
- •Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked his captain, conspiring to deliberately crash the plane.
- •His primary target was to crash into a building or another plane at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.
- •Hammami had planned this before joining Flydubai, specifically choosing an airline with flights to Tel Aviv.
- •After the attack on Captain Smit Machar, passengers and off-duty pilots intervened, safely diverting the plane to Saudi Arabia.
- •Hammami also had backup plans (B and C) to crash at Ben Gurion Airport or divert towards a US military base in Jordan.
Key Questions Answered
The co-pilot, Omani terrorist Hamam al-Hammami, planned to take the plane to Tel Aviv and crash it into a building or another aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport, with alternative backup plans to target a US military base in Jordan.
The plot was foiled when Captain Smit Machar fought back despite being attacked inside the cockpit over Jordan, allowing passengers to step in, subdue and tie up the attacker, and enabling two off-duty pilots to safely land the plane in Saudi Arabia.
Investigative agencies are examining how al-Hammami managed to become a co-pilot even though Oman had previously prevented him from flying due to extremist views, while Australian counter-terrorism officers are investigating his time studying engineering in Melbourne.
