FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash aircraft into Tel Aviv airport
A FlyDubai co‑pilot, identified by multiple sources as Omani national Hamam Al‑Hammami, attempted to hijack Flight FZ1073 bound for Tel Aviv and intended to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport. After stabbing the captain, Smit Machchhar, with an axe, Al‑Hammami tried to seize control, planning to follow a normal approach and landing sequence before deliberately crashing the jet at the last moment. The aircraft was carrying more than 180 passengers when the co‑pilot’s plot was thwarted by passengers who rushed into the cockpit, subdued him, and helped stabilize the plane.
Investigators say Al‑Hammami prepared the attack over several months, having previously flown the sensitive Israel route to gather intelligence and even considering a similar plot on another Tel Aviv‑bound flight earlier in the year before changing his mind. The United Arab Emirates is leading a multinational probe, with security agencies from four regional nations—including Israel—working alongside U.S. and other Western governments to determine his motives. Emirati Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al‑Shamsi described the incident as a terrorist attack, noting the co‑pilot’s use of an axe and his attempt to commandeer the aircraft.
Israel has asked the United Arab Emirates to broaden its questioning of the entire flight crew as new details emerge about the minutes between the captain’s stabbing and the passengers’ intervention. The incident raises concerns about security on flights to Israel and the potential for insider threats, prompting closer scrutiny of crew vetting and monitoring procedures across the region. The collaborative investigation aims to uncover any wider network or external influence behind the plot, while airlines and regulators consider heightened safeguards to prevent similar attempts in the future.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economy
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🏙️Local Economy
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💷Wealth
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🏠Housing
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