The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Friday that the Omani co-pilot of Flydubai Flight 1073 had planned to hijack the aircraft on September 30 and crash it into a terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
According to a statement issued by UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, the suspect’s plan was thwarted by the captain, other pilots and several passengers aboard the aircraft.
The statement, published by the UAE’s state news agency, confirmed earlier reports about the alleged plot. It provided the most detailed account so far from prosecutors about the incident.
The suspect, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the flight route and the airport before attempting to carry out the attack.
According to the UAE, Hammami confessed that he had acted alone. However, al-Shamsi said the investigation was continuing to determine whether he had any accomplices.
The attorney general said Hammami told investigators that he had prepared himself psychologically and physically for the attack by watching material promoting terrorism and taking boxing lessons.
Hammami had previously worked for several airlines in different countries, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, before joining Flydubai in January 2026.
Investigators reportedly found indications that he had been moving towards extremism and terrorism as early as 2017, when he was studying in Australia.
Royal Air Maroc said Hammami had completed three months of training with the airline in 2025. However, his subsequent application for employment was rejected.
Meanwhile, Israeli Shin Bet security agency officials were reportedly in the UAE to participate in the interrogation of the pilot.
Recruitment Procedures Under Investigation
According to al-Shamsi, investigators examined Flydubai’s recruitment procedures and found that Hammami had met all professional and security requirements.
He held the necessary pilot’s licence and had provided a certificate of good conduct as part of the recruitment process.
“However, none of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot,” al-Shamsi said.
The statement did not appear to accuse Flydubai of any wrongdoing.
Aircraft Plunged 16,000 Feet in 30 Seconds
The incident occurred while the aircraft was flying through Saudi Arabian airspace. Hammami allegedly attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with a crash axe normally kept in the cockpit for emergencies.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Israeli passengers and two other pilots aboard the aircraft then helped overpower the suspect.
The aircraft was subsequently landed safely in Saudi Arabia, and Hammami was transferred to the UAE, where Flydubai is based.
During the incident, the aircraft plunged approximately 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) in just 30 seconds.
According to reports, investigators believe Hammami may have deliberately put the aircraft into a dive after realising that his plan to reach Tel Aviv had failed. Passengers also reportedly described him attempting to damage cockpit equipment while they struggled to restrain him.
Suspect Reportedly Planned Attack Months in Advance
Hebrew-language media reports said Hammami had visited Ben Gurion Airport several times in recent months while operating Flydubai flights to Israel.
According to those reports, he told investigators that during a visit in June, he had focused entirely on gathering intelligence and planning the attack.
He reportedly considered carrying out the plot in July but abandoned it at the last moment because he was friends with one of the crew members on that flight.
The Ynet news website quoted a senior Emirati source on Sunday as saying Hammami could face the death penalty. According to the report, Abu Dhabi intends to seek the harshest possible punishment.
The UAE authorities have said the investigation remains ongoing, including efforts to establish whether anyone else was involved in the alleged plot.
