Flydubai Pilot Confesses to Planning Plane Crash in Israel

Sources close to the investigation told ABC News that the Flydubai pilot involved in a recent terror flight has confessed to planning to crash the aircraft in Israel. The pilot, identified by reports as Hamam Al-Hamami, is reportedly cooperating with investigators.

Further details revealed by the sources indicate that Al-Hamami was found with "extremist materials" in 2024 while working as a co-pilot trainee for Oman Air. Despite this discovery, he was permitted to continue employment with the airline in a managerial role. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Al-Hamami had previously been suspended from flying in Oman due to concerns over his adoption of "radical ideology." This suspension, according to sources cited in that report, did not prevent him from piloting flights on the sensitive route between the UAE and Israel.

It remains unclear whether Oman alerted other countries about their concerns regarding the co-pilot, or the exact nature of his radicalization process. Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on the investigation, stating that the pilot "underwent Islamist radicalization" and that "whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price."

Sources in the UAE described the Omani pilot to i24NEWS as a "reserved, unsociable, and devoutly religious person." They also noted that it is not yet clear if he specifically requested to be assigned to flights to Israel. These sources cautioned against prematurely concluding that Iran was behind the incident, stating it is "too early to determine that the event was planned by an organization or a state." Concurrently, the UAE public prosecutor has ordered the formation of a team to investigate the incident and its circumstances. Additionally, a senior Emirati official met with the Sultan of Oman.