Omani Pilot Confesses to Plotting Ben Gurion Airport Attack

An Omani co-pilot who attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight confessed during his investigation that he had planned to crash the aircraft into the terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. He revealed that he waited to attack the captain until the plane had passed over Jordan and was nearing Israeli airspace. His intention was to perform a routine landing approach and then crash the plane in the final seconds, when interception would no longer be possible. The perpetrator disclosed that the plot was premeditated and had guided his professional career. "I searched and checked which company flies to Tel Aviv, and that's why I chose Flydubai," he told investigators. "I tried to get accepted by all the companies. I planned the operation even before I was accepted by the company." The attack was thwarted at the last moment thanks to the critical decision of the Indian captain. Despite being injured in the assault, the captain insisted on opening the cockpit door at all costs, an action that enabled the neutralization of the hijacker and saved the flight.