UAE prosecutors say Omani co-pilot tried to crash Flydubai jet into Tel Aviv

UAE prosecutors say Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani, planned to seize a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport’s passenger terminal in a suicide attack intended to cause mass casualties. Investigators say he was inspired by the September 11 attacks, developed extremist views while studying in Australia, and took two earlier flights to study the route and airport; he reportedly confessed to acting alone, though authorities are still investigating possible accomplices. Prosecutors say he passed Flydubai’s professional and security screening, which did not reveal his alleged plans. On September 30, he allegedly attacked the captain with an axe during the flight; after the aircraft plunged sharply, crew and passengers intervened, and reserve pilots diverted it to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The captain was seriously injured, passengers were unharmed, and Israel ordered a review of security for foreign civil aviation.