Target of Attack Attempt on FlyDubai Flight Was Tel Aviv Airport

United Arab Emirates officials disclosed the plan behind the cockpit attack attempt on a FlyDubai plane. Accordingly, it was stated that the radicalized co-pilot's target was Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

Target and Purpose of the Attack Attempt

The UAE Attorney General stated that the co-pilot of the FlyDubai flight had adopted extremist Islamist views inspired by the September 11 attacks.

Emirati investigators determined that the attacker aimed to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to cause maximum casualties.

Events During the Flight

On FlyDubai flight 1073, carrying more than 170 passengers mostly of Israeli nationality, the co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe and attempted to crash the aircraft.

After captain Smit Machchhar opened the cockpit door, passengers subdued the attacker, and relief pilots landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.

Attacker's Background and Radicalization Process

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that the attacker was a 29-year-old Omani citizen, while sources close to the investigation identified him as Hamam al-Hammami.

Investigators noted that the attacker began to radicalize while studying in Australia between 2015 and 2017 and confessed to choosing an aviation career to realize this vision.

Career History and Investigation Findings

It was determined that the attacker, who joined FlyDubai in January 2026 after working for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, acted alone and took two flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route.

Despite all these findings, questions continue to be raised as to how the radicalization process of the pilot—who provided a certificate of good conduct and met recruitment requirements—went unnoticed.