{
  "id": 12831062,
  "title": "Flydubai co-pilot initially planned on hijacking plane in summer, investigation reveals - report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/flydubai-co-pilot-initially-planned-on-hijacking-plane-in-summer",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T09:18:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-911004"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly planned to hijack a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv in July, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The Omani national was interviewed by investigators after attempting to crash the plane into a target in Israel, most likely Ben-Gurion Airport, due to the Israel-Hamas War situation. Sources indicated that Hammami had initially intended to carry out the attack in July, but held off due to his concern for one of the flight's crew members. Hammami had previously been banned from flying by Omani authorities because of his radical ideological views, and there are reports that Flydubai may have hired him without conducting thorough background checks. The airline's recruitment push began during the COVID-19 pandemic as they sought to address the industry-wide shortage of pilots.",
  "summary": "According to the WSJ, Hammami told investigators that he had sought to crash a plane into an Israeli target, such as Ben-Gurion Airport, due to the situation in Gaza.",
  "key_points": [
    "Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned to hijack a Dubai to Tel Aviv flight in July.",
    "He aimed to crash the plane into Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel.",
    "Hammami was banned by Omani authorities due to radical views."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}