Israel Suspects 'Lone Wolf' Motive in Flydubai Hijacking Attempt
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel believes a Flydubai flight's near-crash was a 'lone wolf' terrorist act.
- The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and tried to crash the plane.
- Israeli passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, forcing an emergency landing.
- The attacker is under investigation in the UAE with Israeli participation.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu suggested a suicide motive, possibly radicalized.
- The co-pilot had a history of accessing radical websites.
An initial investigation in Israel suggests that the attempted crash of a Flydubai flight last Wednesday was likely a "lone wolf" terrorist act. Sources close to the matter told CBS News that the investigation is ongoing and all possibilities are being examined. The incident occurred as the plane approached Israel, when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. The captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing a group of Israeli passengers, along with crew members and two off-duty pilots, to overpower the assailant and force an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The co-pilot, Al-Hamami, is currently in the United Arab Emirates undergoing further questioning after being initially interrogated by Saudi authorities. Israeli representatives have been sent to the Emirates to participate in the investigation. While U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at possible Iranian connections for the attacker, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS that he believes it was a suicide attempt. In a separate interview with Fox News, Netanyahu stated that Al-Hamami had undergone "radical Islamic brainwashing" and revealed that after being neutralized, the attacker shouted, "Kill me, kill me!".
Sources informed CBS that Al-Hamami is an Omani citizen, with a local father and Syrian mother, who spent most of his life abroad. He briefly worked for Oman Air and began pilot training, but was moved to an office role after Omani government surveillance revealed he had accessed radical websites. He resigned from his position around 2024. In one past instance, he posted a video of El Al planes in Dubai, which concluded with an image of the eliminated Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Despite this history, he moved to Dubai and was hired by Flydubai without the company conducting a background check with Oman. Sources speculated that he might have held dual citizenship, which could explain his assignment to a flight bound for Israel.
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