FlyDubai Pilot Planned Mega-Terror Attack on Ben Gurion Airport

An Omani pilot for FlyDubai, Hammam al-Hammami, intended to carry out a large-scale terror attack at Ben Gurion Airport using the aircraft, according to Israeli officials familiar with the investigation into a hijacking attempt. Al-Hammami told investigators that before joining FlyDubai, he researched airlines flying to Israel and specifically chose FlyDubai because it serves Tel Aviv. "I dreamed of crashing a plane into Ben Gurion," he stated. He had initially planned to execute the attack in July during a previous flight to Israel but reportedly abandoned the plan due to a friendly relationship with a crew member, believing another opportunity would arise. Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the head of the National Security Council to appoint an individual responsible for reviewing the security protocols for foreign airline flights. This decision comes in response to the FlyDubai incident and reports of significant security lapses in the vetting of foreign airline crews. In May 2024, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman released a report highlighting security concerns regarding foreign airlines. The report recommended that the Prime Minister, Transportation Minister, and Finance Minister establish a unified national policy for civil aviation security and clarify the division of responsibilities among relevant agencies.