Alleged Flydubai hijacker said 9/11 attacks spurred him to become a pilot, early investigation finds
The alleged Flydubai hijacker had planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and was inspired by the 9/11 attacks, a preliminary investigation has found. Hamam al-Hammami, the suspect in the hijacking attempt and co-pilot on board last week’s flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, wanted to carry out a similar … The post Alleged Flydubai hijacker said 9/11 attacks spurred him to…
The alleged Flydubai hijacker, Hamam al-Hammami, reportedly planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, inspired by the 9/11 attacks, according to a preliminary investigation by the UAE's Attorney General. The 29-year-old, who previously worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, sought to emulate the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Hamam al-Hammami was stopped by the captain and passengers who regained control of the plane. He had been studying in Australia in 2017, where he became radicalized through extremist publications and online content. Al-Hammami joined Flydubai in January 2026, despite being removed from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns over his radical views.
The UAE investigation found no indications of his extremist inclinations during his recruitment process. Authorities are still investigating the involvement of others and reviewing recordings and technical reports.
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