The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Israel allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to an Israeli official cited in the report.
The suspect, identified by sources familiar with the investigation as Hamam al Hamami, allegedly told investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai, where he had worked for more than a year. He had also previously traveled to Israel, according to the report.
The incident occurred on September 30 as the aircraft approached Israeli territory. Al Hamami allegedly attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency axe and attempted to cause the aircraft to crash.
Machchhar resisted the attack and managed to open the cockpit door. Israeli passengers and crew members then restrained the co-pilot, while two pilots who were traveling as passengers helped regain control of the aircraft. The plane ultimately made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The incident has also raised questions about aviation security procedures. Former El Al aviation security official Eytan Ben David said security protocols should have prevented Al Hamami from operating a flight to Israel and described the episode as a major security failure.
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Israel requires foreign airlines to provide passenger and crew lists in advance for flights entering the country. However, Israeli transportation and security authorities said they were not responsible for screening the crews of foreign airlines.
The investigation is also examining Al Hamami’s previous employment with Oman Air. Sources said Omani authorities had identified his visits to websites considered radical and subsequently moved him to an administrative position. He later left the airline and moved to Dubai, where he was hired by Flydubai.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said the United States is reviewing its own procedures to ensure that people considered potential security risks cannot take control of commercial aircraft. Vance said the U.S. did not necessarily have specific intelligence about Al Hamami and declined to comment on any possible connection between the co-pilot and Iran.
