Flydubai Pilot Planned Attack on Ben Gurion Airport, Investigators Say

A Flydubai pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hamami, a citizen of Oman, allegedly planned to crash a passenger plane into Ben Gurion Airport and, failing that, target a US base in Jordan. These details emerged during the investigation into the incident where the flight nearly crashed en route to Israel. Shin Bet officials arrived in the UAE on Monday, October 5, to participate in the suspect's interrogation. During questioning, al-Hamami reportedly stated his motive was revenge against Israel for its actions in Gaza. According to Channel 13, he actively sought employment with an airline flying to Tel Aviv and applied to various carriers. The attack plan, he claims, predated his employment with Flydubai. Investigation materials suggest he initially intended to carry out the attack in July but postponed it, citing personal affection for a crew member. Investigators also found that al-Hamami had visited Israel in June, preparing to become a "shahid" (martyr). His plan involved attacking Captain Smith Machharu with an emergency axe, incapacitating him, seizing control of the aircraft, and directing it toward his intended target. The resistance from the captain, along with Israeli passengers and pilots who eventually landed the plane, thwarted his plot. After the assailant was subdued and the aircraft stabilized, the pilots who replaced the captain requested permission to land in Jordan. However, the Jordanian authorities reportedly denied this request upon learning of the suspected hijacking. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that al-Hamami disabled the autopilot, took manual control, shut down the engines mid-air, and initiated a steep dive, causing the aircraft to lose nearly 5 kilometers of altitude in under a minute.

Investigators are examining whether the suspect had accomplices or handlers. A Mossad representative informed ministers that al-Hamami had visited several countries hostile to Israel in recent years, not just Syria as previously reported. His prolonged stay was in Syria, with other trips being brief. Authorities are investigating if he was recruited or received instructions during these visits, though the preliminary assessment is that he acted alone. Australia and New Zealand are also reviewing his time in those countries approximately a decade ago.

In response to identified aviation security gaps, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the head of the National Security Council to appoint an examiner to review all security aspects of foreign civilian flights to Israel. This internal review will not grant the examiner investigative or enforcement powers. The timeline for this review and the subsequent rectification of identified shortcomings remains unclear. The issue had previously been handled by the head of the National Security Council himself, but according to the report, he was unable to resolve the problems.