Flydubai Co-Pilot Confesses to Planning Israel Crash, Investigation Continues

New details are emerging from the interrogation of the second pilot involved in an attempted terror attack on a Flydubai flight from the UAE to Tel Aviv. The pilot, identified as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hamami from Oman, reportedly confessed to intending to crash the plane in Israel, an act reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks. Sources cited by The Wall Street Journal indicate al-Hamami underwent an Islamist radicalization process, leading Omani authorities to previously ban him from flying. Despite this ban, Flydubai allegedly hired al-Hamami and allowed him to fly to Israel on a route considered sensitive, before he attempted to crash the aircraft with over 170 people on board.

Al-Hamami, who was born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother and lived there for many years, had previously been found with extremist materials in 2024 while working as a trainee co-pilot for Oman Air. He was then removed from flight duties but allowed to continue in an administrative role. Investigators are now trying to understand how he was hired by Flydubai and allowed to pilot a flight to Israel after being flagged by security services.

While U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Iran might be involved, Israeli Prime Minister Binaymin Netanyahu stated that while all possibilities are being investigated, there is currently no indication the pilot acted on behalf of any organization or state, assessing he acted alone. Netanyahu added that if he was directed by someone, that party would pay a high price. The investigation is also examining how al-Hamami was cleared for the flight, especially given that airlines are required to provide passenger and crew data to Israel's National Passenger Data Analysis Center (MALAN) for security checks.

Knesset Members Efrat Rayten, Ram Ben-Barak, Hili Tropper, and Oded Forer have called for an urgent meeting with the head of the Shin Bet security service to discuss reports of prior warnings about security issues on flights from the UAE. They emphasized the passengers' and crew's bravery in preventing a catastrophe and demanded a review of aviation security systems and the actions of responsible authorities.

In related news, Flydubai has extended its suspension of all flights to Israel until October 15. Etihad Airways is operating additional flights to help return passengers to Israel. The captain of the Flydubai flight, Smith Machchar, is credited with fighting the co-pilot and preventing the crash, with the plane eventually landing safely in Saudi Arabia.