Flydubai Co-Pilot May Face Death Penalty in UAE for Alleged Israel Attack Plot

According to investigations, al-Hammami planned to crash the passenger jet into a major Israeli target. While early reports suggested he aimed for Tel Aviv's Azrieli Towers in a 9/11-style attack, subsequent confessions revealed his target was the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. He intended to simulate a normal landing approach and divert the aircraft into the crowded terminal at the last moment to prevent interception. To achieve this, he postponed his assault on the captain until the plane was over Jordan.

During the flight, al-Hammami shut down both engines, attacked the pilot, and attempted to seize the cockpit. The plot was foiled when the injured Indian captain, Smith Machar, opened the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to intervene and overpower the attacker. Two off-duty pilots helped regain control of the aircraft. The UAE is also investigating whether six other crew members aided the suspect, following testimony that a crew member was seen holding the cockpit door handle.

An international investigation led by UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi is underway in Abu Dhabi, involving Mossad personnel, Israeli aviation experts, and intelligence representatives from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United States. The probe has raised serious questions about vetting procedures, as al-Hammami had previously been dismissed from Oman Air for possessing extremist material and was rejected by Royal Air Maroc before being hired by Flydubai, where he worked for eight months.