9/11 attacks inspired flydubai hijacker to become a pilot: UAE probe

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has uncovered that the alleged co-pilot of a Flydubai flight hijacked and crashed into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport was motivated by the 9/11 terror attacks. Hamam al-Hammami, 29, aimed to replicate the 2001 assault that killed nearly 3,000 people in the US. The UAE attorney general stated that al-Hammami's desire to execute a similar attack influenced his decision to pursue a career in aviation.

The preliminary investigation found that al-Hammami had visited Ben Gurion Airport twice prior to the alleged attack to familiarize himself with the route and airport. The plot, which authorities believe was carried out by al-Hammami alone, was thwarted when the captain and several passengers restrained him. Al-Hammami's radicalization began in 2017 during his studies in Australia, where he was influenced by extremist publications and materials promoting terrorist activities.