FlyDubai Pilot Wanted to Do 9/11 Style Attack in Israel

A co-pilot for Flydubai allegedly plotted to crash a passenger plane into the terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, in a 9/11-style attack, according to the UAE's attorney general. The plan was hatched by Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, who attempted to take control of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The plot was thwarted when other crew members, passengers and the captain intervened.

Al-Hammami allegedly confronted the captain with an emergency axe before being subdued. The plane was later redirected to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Prosecutors say al-Hammami had taken two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and the airport prior to attempting the attack. He reportedly confessed to planning and carrying out the attack alone, although investigators are still probing whether anyone else aided him.

Al-Hammami, who joined Flydubai in January 2026, met the airline's professional and security criteria, and his potential extremist beliefs were not uncovered during hiring checks. This official confirmation of the alleged target at the airport follows earlier reports of the attempted hijacking.