Shin Bet Investigates Omani Co-Pilot in Dubai Flight Attack

The Shin Bet security agency is investigating Maam Al-Hamaami, an Omani national and co-pilot on a Flydubai flight, who attempted to hijack the aircraft and carry out an attack in Israel. Shin Bet agents traveled to Dubai to participate in the interrogation of Al-Hamaami, who is being questioned in the United Arab Emirates following the attempted terror attack on the flight to Israel. Initial findings indicate Al-Hamaami planned to seize control of the plane and crash it at Ben Gurion Airport. Reports suggest he gathered intelligence during previous work-related visits to Israel. During the incident, Al-Hamaami, an Omani citizen, attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to take over the flight controls to crash the plane into a tall building in Israel. The quick thinking of the captain and passengers neutralized him and thwarted the hijacking attempt. New details reveal Al-Hamaami visited Israel multiple times in the months prior, dedicating one visit to gathering information and observing operations at Ben Gurion Airport. The investigation suggests he had planned the attack three months earlier but postponed it. Shin Bet agents are now working in Dubai to fully understand the planning, motives, and intelligence gathered for the planned attack. Concurrently, Israeli authorities are examining how Al-Hamaami, who reportedly underwent Islamist radicalization and was previously suspended from another airline, was hired as a co-pilot by Flydubai and allowed to fly to Israel.