DUBAI, UAE — The flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to hijack a flight to Tel Aviv allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport or a tower block in central Tel Aviv, according to US and Israeli media reports.
The Omani national, identified by multiple reports as Hamam al-Hammami, has been described in the reports as a suspected lone-wolf extremist.
The United Arab Emirates Attorney-General Hamad al-Shamsi said the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a “terrorist act” aboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv last Wednesday.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the emergency crash axe kept in the cockpit before being overpowered by passengers.
A second crew member subsequently landed the Boeing 737 MAX safely in Saudi Arabia.
Alleged Tel Aviv Crash Plan
Israeli media, citing sources familiar with the investigation, reported that al-Hammami told investigators he intended to continue flying the aircraft towards Israel after attacking the captain.
According to the reports, he planned to receive landing clearance from Ben Gurion Airport before deliberately crashing the plane into the airport or a tower block in central Tel Aviv.
The aircraft was carrying more than 180 passengers.
The reports said investigators believe he was most likely acting alone rather than on behalf of a radical organisation or foreign government.
He also reportedly told investigators that he had considered hijacking and crashing an earlier flight to Tel Aviv but abandoned the plan after discovering that someone he knew was travelling on the aircraft.
There was no immediate comment from Emirati or Israeli authorities on the reported details of the investigation.
Al-Shamsi said on Saturday that the UAE investigation would establish the circumstances, motives and any links connected to the incident, with the findings to be announced once the probe is complete.
Questions Over Aviation Security
The incident has also raised questions about how the co-pilot was recruited and cleared to operate a passenger aircraft travelling to Israel.
Regional officials said the co-pilot had previously been barred from flying by Oman’s national carrier, Oman Air, and had been moved to an administrative role because of concerns about his alleged extremist views.
He was later employed by UAE-based flydubai after undergoing standard security checks which, according to the officials, did not examine his background for potential signs of radicalisation.
Questions have also emerged over Israeli aviation regulations concerning pilots from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel’s aviation regulations reportedly prohibit citizens of such countries, including Oman, from operating flights to the country.
Dispute Over Passenger Lists
Regional officials told the Associated Press that Emirati authorities had provided Israel with a list of passengers and crew before flight FZ1073 departed.
Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agency said responsibility for vetting such lists from foreign airlines rested with the Transport Ministry.
Transport Minister Miri Regev disputed that account, saying her ministry had not received the passenger and crew lists.
Regev said security oversight for foreign airlines was instead handled by the Shin Bet and Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since instructed the head of the National Security Council to review all security aspects concerning foreign civil aviation to Israel.
Investigation Extends Beyond UAE And Israel
Australian authorities are also investigating the co-pilot’s links to Australia.
Local media reported that he studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017, although the nature of any connection between his time there and the alleged attack remains under investigation.
The UAE investigation is expected to examine the co-pilot’s background, motives, recruitment and any possible links to extremist organisations or other actors.
The incident has also prompted scrutiny of the security procedures used to vet flight crew operating international passenger services, particularly on routes involving countries with heightened security concerns.
