Al-Qaeda Calls for Copycat Attacks, Israel Investigates Security Lapses

Supporters of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda have called for copycat attacks against Americans and Israeli passenger planes in a publication referencing the September 11th attacks and praising the hijacker of a Flydubai flight, Mam Al-Hamami. Four days after the attempted attack, Israeli authorities have not yet taken responsibility for the security lapse or implemented measures to prevent similar incidents. The call was published in "Al-Bayan," a weekly journal launched by Al-Qaeda supporters in July, and was removed the following day. The article, which included an image of the Twin Towers' destruction alongside a reference to the recent Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight incident, threatened that "planes carrying Zionists, Americans, and other infidels fighting Islam still fly the skies, and they can be hit." The publication also stated, "America and the Zionists have many more enemies today than in the past." While there is no evidence Al-Hamami acted on Al-Qaeda's orders, Israeli security agencies believe he underwent an "Islamic radicalization" process and acted alone. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have suggested the co-pilot was directed by external forces.

Reports indicate Al-Hamami grew up in Syria during its civil war, potentially beginning his radicalization there. He later received a visa to Australia, where he studied engineering in Melbourne for three years before his visa was revoked. He reportedly served as a pilot for Oman Air, where he was suspended and later fired in 2024 and 2025 respectively due to extremist materials found in his possession. He was hired by Flydubai in early 2026. In the UAE, where the incident is being investigated as an act of terror, Al-Hamami has reportedly cooperated with investigators and admitted to planning to crash the plane.

Israeli authorities are investigating how Al-Hamami, an Omani citizen from a country with no official relations with Israel, was allowed to fly to the country. Different government bodies are blaming each other for the security breach. Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged a "loophole" that allowed Al-Hamami to exploit the fact that a citizen of a country without formal ties to Israel had clearance to fly there. An investigation is examining whether Al-Hamami had previously flown to Israel, contradicting initial reports. The Ministry of Transport, responsible for security checks, stated it is not an intelligence agency and lacked the means to vet foreign flight crews. Senior ministry officials claimed that data for foreign flight crews arriving in Israel had not been checked for approximately two years. Minister Miri Regev has assigned responsibility for the lapse to the Mossad and the Tax Authority. When asked about the certainty of security for passengers on foreign airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority stated that while they estimate no such pilots have landed in Israel, there is no 100% certainty in security, short of halting all air travel.