FlyDubai Co-Pilot Attempted Crash Into Ben Gurion Airport
Hamam al-Hammami, a FlyDubai co-pilot, attempted to hijack a flight on September 30 to crash it into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
The United Arab Emirates announced that Hamam al-Hammami, a FlyDubai co-pilot and Omani national, attempted to hijack a flight on September 30 to crash it into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. According to Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, al-Hammami was inspired by the September 11 attacks and intended to kill as many people as possible.
During the incident, al-Hammami attacked the captain with a crash ax, causing the aircraft to dive near the speed of sound and sustain rudder damage. Crew members and passengers eventually restrained him, and backup pilots landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. Investigators revealed that al-Hammami had previously planned a similar attack during a July flight on the same route but decided against it due to feelings for a crew member.
UAE authorities stated that al-Hammami had a history of extremism dating back to 2017 and had been barred from flying at Oman Air for similar reasons. The incident has led to the suspension of flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
