UAE: Co-pilot Inspired by 9/11 Planned Suicide Attack on Ben Gurion Airport

The UAE Attorney General has confirmed reports that an Omani co-pilot intended to crash a Flydubai plane at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The co-pilot, Mam Al-Hamami, confessed to planning a suicide attack on the airport's passenger terminal to maximize casualties. According to the Attorney General, Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, Al-Hamami stated he acted alone, though investigations into potential accomplices are ongoing.

Al-Hamami's radicalization reportedly began in Australia in 2017 while he was studying there. He was influenced by Takfiri ideology, consuming extremist literature and online content that glorified terrorist organizations and suicide bombings. He drew inspiration from the September 11th attacks, which solidified his idea of using an aircraft for a similar operation, a motive that apparently influenced his decision to pursue a career in aviation.

During his studies in Melbourne, Al-Hamami frequented a mosque associated with RMIT University and met individuals linked to a center called "My Centre," allegedly run by a Lebanese man known as "Abu Hamza" and supported by an organization connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. He prepared himself mentally and physically for the attack by increasing his exposure to terror-inciting materials and undergoing private boxing training.

Investigations revealed Al-Hamami made two prior flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the flight path and airport as part of his preparations for the planned terror attack, which he intended to carry out on his third flight on September 30th. Despite meeting professional and security requirements for his employment at Flydubai, including holding a pilot's license and passing background checks, no signs of his extremist views or intentions were detected during the hiring process.

During the flight, Al-Hamami surprised the captain in the cockpit and attacked him with an emergency axe. A pilot scheduled for the return flight, who happened to be near the cockpit, noticed unusual door activity, entered the cockpit, and witnessed the attack. With the help of a crew member and passengers, they subdued Al-Hamami, rescued the injured captain, and regained control of the aircraft. The flight was safely diverted and landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.