Brief
UAE Attorney General says Omani co‑pilot planned 9/11‑style attack on Ben Gurion Airport
The UAE prosecutor says the 29‑year‑old Omani co‑pilot intended a suicide crash into Israel’s main airport, echoing the September 11 attacks.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif al‑Shamsi said on Friday that Omani national Hamam al‑Hammami, the 29‑year‑old co‑pilot who attacked the captain of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, had plotted a suicide crash into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. The plan, according to the prosecutor, was modeled on the September 11, 2001 attacks and aimed to cause the greatest possible loss of life.
What happened
Al‑Hammami, described by the prosecutor as an “Islamist,” allegedly used an axe to assault the captain during the flight on September 30. Passengers overpowered him and the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The prosecutor’s statement says al‑Hammami confessed that he had rehearsed the plot on two earlier Dubai‑Tel Aviv flights to familiarise himself with the route and the airport.
What the reports add
The outlet LegalInsurrection.com cites the UAE attorney general’s remarks and adds that al‑Hammami was radicalised in 2017, was barred from flying in Oman over extremist views, and that his LinkedIn profile displayed al‑Qaeda‑linked images, as reported by Israel’s i24NEWS. The article also references a Reuters report confirming the co‑pilot’s intent to seize the flight and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport.
What was said
Attorney General Hamad Saif al‑Shamsi said the plot was “premeditated” and linked to al‑Hammami’s inspiration from the 9/11 attacks. He added that the suspect’s confession linked his decision to become a pilot with the desire to carry out a similar operation.
How it came about
UAE prosecutors began a criminal investigation on October 1, after the September 30 incident. Earlier Felo News coverage documented the cockpit assault, the diversion to Tabuk, and the subsequent investigation launched by the UAE chief prosecutor. Those reports noted that al‑Hammami acted alone and that the flight carried 174 passengers, most of them Israeli.
Key facts
- UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al‑Shamsi said Omani co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami planned a suicide crash into Ben Gurion Airport. (legalinsurrection.com)
- Al‑Hammami attacked the captain with an axe on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv on September 30. (legalinsurrection.com)
- The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely after passengers overpowered the attacker. (legalinsurrection.com)
- Al‑Hammami confessed to rehearsing the plot on two earlier Dubai‑Tel Aviv flights. (legalinsurrection.com)
- The prosecutor described the plot as inspired by the September 11 attacks. (legalinsurrection.com)
Timeline
- 2026-09-30 — Co‑pilot attacks captain on Flydubai flight; plane diverted to Tabuk.
- 2026-10-01 — UAE prosecutors launch investigation into cockpit altercation.
- 2026-10-10 — Attorney General announces al‑Hammami’s 9/11‑style plot.
Sources
- [1] legalinsurrection.com — originally reported as “Flydubai Attacker Planned 9/11 -Style Suicide Attack on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, UAE Confirms”
