FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash jet into Israeli airport, official says
The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of trying to crash a packed plane planned the attack for months, and should never even have been cleared to fly to Israel, sources tell CBS News.
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight allegedly intended to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport or a high-rise building in the Israeli city, according to US and Israeli reports. The co-pilot, an Omani national, was described as a "lone wolf" extremist. The UAE's attorney-general confirmed the co-pilot attempted a "terrorist act" on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
The attacker attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe before being subdued by passengers. The plane was eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Israel's Prime Minister stated that the co-pilot underwent "Islamist radical indoctrination," while the captain, passengers, and a crew member prevented a "9/11 disaster." The co-pilot's background and the security lapses leading to the incident are under investigation.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Flydubai Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned Tel Aviv crash before hiring by airline: Report indianexpress.com
- Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say myjoyonline.com
- Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say kahawatungu.com
- FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash aircraft into Tel Aviv airport euronews.com
- Flydubai co-pilot planned to target Tel Aviv skyscraper or Ben-Gurion Airport — report english.nv.ua
- Israeli officials say FlyDubai co-pilot planned attack before joining airline cbc.ca
- FlyDubai attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, ongoing investigation finds npr.org
- Hero passengers on the terrifying FlyDubai flight detail how they saved the plane cbsnews.com
