Confession of the Pilot Who Planned an Attack on a Flight to Tel Aviv
The plan by a flydubai pilot to crash a Tel Aviv-bound flight into Ben Gurion Airport was prevented by the resistance of the wounded captain.
Testifying before investigators in Abu Dhabi, flydubai's Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami confessed that he planned to carry out a 9/11-style attack by crashing the Tel Aviv-bound flight into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport or a skyscraper.
Details of the Attack Plan
Testifying before investigators in Abu Dhabi, flydubai's Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami confessed that he planned to carry out a 9/11-style attack by crashing the Tel Aviv-bound flight into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport or a skyscraper.
Al-Hammami stated that after incapacitating the captain, he intended to obtain landing clearance and crash the aircraft into a building or a jet at the airport.
Prevented by the Captain's Resistance
During the flight, the co-pilot attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with an axe, injuring him in the head, but was stopped as a result of the captain's resistance and distress signals.
Thanks to the captain fighting back despite his injuries and the opening of the cockpit door, the crew and passengers regained control, and the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Postponement of the Plan and Intelligence Gathering
According to Israeli sources, al-Hammami had originally planned to carry out the attack in July, but postponed it at the last minute because he had befriended one of the crew members.
It was revealed that the co-pilot had devised this attack before joining flydubai and focused entirely on gathering intelligence during his trip to Israel in June.
Events During the Flight
According to information reflected in the Italian press, al-Hammami, who injured the captain, shut down the aircraft's engines and pushed the rudders forward, causing the plane to drop 16,000 feet in less than a minute.
Captain Machchhar, who received treatment in the hospital following the incident, stated that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the attacker wanted to say a prayer just before delivering the blow.
Security Vulnerabilities and Investigation
Following the incident, serious vulnerabilities in aviation security and the fact that the co-pilot had been banned from flying in his own country due to extremist views sparked debate.
Disputes over responsibility regarding passenger lists and security audits arose between Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet and the Ministry of Transport.