Israeli Intelligence Aids Probe Into UAE Flight Attack Plot

An investigation into an attempted attack on a Flydubai flight has revealed that the co-pilot, 29-year-old Maam Al-Hamami, planned to crash the plane into a tall building, possibly the Azrieli towers in Tel Aviv. An official in Abu Dhabi confirmed to Ynet that Israeli Mossad agents and aviation experts have secretly arrived in Abu Dhabi to participate in the investigation alongside representatives from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United States. The official stated that Al-Hamami is expected to face a death sentence without the possibility of pardon upon the conclusion of the investigation. The probe has uncovered serious lapses in Al-Hamami's background checks. He was previously dismissed from Oman Air in Muscat after extremist materials were found in his possession during pilot training, and he was disqualified from sitting in the cockpit. However, Abu Dhabi hired him without a thorough investigation. During his eight months with Flydubai, he visited Israel dozens of times, including shortly before the incident, without Israeli or aviation authorities requesting prior information or raising any alarms, despite a lack of official ties with Oman. The Emirati official also noted Al-Hamami's past included a visit to Syria and activities raising questions about his alleged affiliation with Al-Qaeda. Simultaneously, authorities are investigating who recruited him so quickly for Flydubai, attributing the rapid hiring to a global shortage of pilots. The investigation is being conducted in the UAE after Al-Hamami was transferred from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi. The Public Prosecutor announced the incident is being investigated as a terror attack attempt, reporting that the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft. The plane was carrying 182 people. The Indian captain struggled with Al-Hamami, and passengers and crew members managed to neutralize the co-pilot. The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Currently, there is no evidence that Al-Hamami was acting on behalf of a state or terrorist organization. Security sources indicated that regional security agencies, with assistance from the U.S. and other Western nations, are continuing to examine his motives and background. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radicalization" and that potential links to Iran were being investigated.