The co-pilot and alleged hijacker of a flydubai flight and crash it into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport was inspired by the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US, according to preliminary findings released by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Hamam al-Hammami, 29, who was serving as the co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, allegedly planned to take control of the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport.According to a statement by UAE attorney general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, shared by Emirati state media, al-Hammami wanted to carry out an attack similar to the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in the US 25 years ago. Four commercial planes were hijacked during those attacks and crashed at three locations.“The idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his mind, which, according to his confessions, was connected to his decision to pursue a career in aviation,” Friday’s statement said.The co-pilot allegedly planned “a premeditated plot with a terrorist objective, aimed at taking control of the aircraft and using it to carry out a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport,” with the aim of causing “the greatest possible number of casualties,” the statement added.
Flew to Israel twice before alleged attack
The preliminary investigation found that the September 30 flight was not al-Hammami’s first trip to Ben Gurion Airport. He had reportedly taken part in two earlier flights to the airport to familiarise himself with the route and the airport before carrying out the alleged attack.An Israeli official and another source familiar with the matter had earlier told CNN that the suspected hijacker likely intended to target the airport, Israel’s main international gateway.The alleged hijacking attempt was stopped after the captain and several passengers restrained al-Hammami and regained control of the aircraft.
How the co-pilot became radicalised
The UAE investigation found that al-Hammami began moving towards extremism and terrorism in 2017, while studying in Australia. He was reportedly influenced by extremist publications and online content that praised terrorist groups and suicide attacks.According to the statement, he “prepared himself psychologically and physically to carry out his plot by increasing his exposure to material inciting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.”Investigators also examined his employment history with different airlines.Al-Hammami worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024. He joined Royal Air Maroc in 2025 but worked there for only a few months before moving to Flydubai in January 2026, according to the UAE statement.A source had earlier told CNN that Oman Air removed al-Hammami from flight training because of concerns about his radical views and assigned him another role at the airline.In a statement to the Associated Press last week, Royal Air Maroc said al-Hammami had undergone three months of training with the airline in 2025 as part of its pre-employment process but was not selected for a job.
Flydubai recruitment procedures under scrutiny
The UAE investigation also examined how Flydubai hired al-Hammami. Investigators found that he had met the professional and security requirements for the job, including holding a pilot’s licence, possessing a certificate of good conduct and passing the required examinations.“There were “no indications emerging during those procedures that revealed his extremist inclinations or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot,” attorney general Al Shamsi said, according to Emirati state media.Al-Hammami told investigators that he had acted alone, but authorities are still checking his claim.
