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UAE: Omani FlyDubai Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Ben Gurion Airport
Confirmed
In Short: The UAE Attorney General confirmed on Friday that an Omani co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack, aiming to cause mass casualties, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand).
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that the co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, had worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc before joining FlyDubai in January 2026. Rnz (New Zealand) stated that the incident caused the jet to plunge 4,900 meters in 30 seconds.
Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) reported that the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe and was subdued by two other pilots and passengers, leading to the plane's emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
According to Haaretz (Israel), Netanyahu said Israel was investigating whether the co-pilot had acted on someone else's orders. India Today (India) noted that the UAE prosecutor general said the suspect had acted alone but authorities were still examining the possibility of assistance.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand) both reported that the co-pilot's plan was inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) added that the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and airport.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand) stated that the co-pilot had met the professional and security requirements for employment at FlyDubai. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) noted that the airline's checks before hiring him had not uncovered extremist views or links to terrorist activity.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that the suspect had been influenced by takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) added that his radicalization began in 2017, when he started taking an interest in extremist ideologies and terrorist acts.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand) reported that the co-pilot had planned the attack for years, drawing inspiration from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) noted that the suspect had admitted to attempting to hijack the flight and had visited Tel Aviv at least twice beforehand.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand) stated that the co-pilot had planned to crash the aircraft into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to cause mass casualties. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) added that he had planned to crash the aircraft into a facility or parked plane at Ben Gurion Airport after obtaining routine landing clearance.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand) reported that the co-pilot had worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc before joining FlyDubai in January 2026. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) noted that the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and airport.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Rnz (New Zealand) stated that the co-pilot had planned the attack for years, drawing inspiration from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Haaretz (Israel) and India Today (India) noted that the suspect had admitted to attempting to hijack the flight and had visited Tel Aviv at least twice beforehand.
All outlets agreed that the co-pilot had planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to cause mass casualties, and that he had been subdued by other pilots and passengers, leading to the plane's emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Background
The UAE Attorney General confirmed that the co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack, aiming to cause mass casualties.
Counter-terrorism investigators in Australia are examining potential links between the co-pilot of a FlyDubai plane and the country, following an alleged cockpit attack that nearly caused a crash.
What's confirmed
- Updated 9 October 2026 20:03 reuters October 9, 2026 19:57 Follow LONDON: An Omani FlyDubai co-pilot had planned to seize a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and crash it into a terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion airport, the UAE attorney general said on Friday.
- The plan was allegedly inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, UAE public prosecutors believe as a result of their investigation launched on October 1, which found the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to “familiarise himself with the flight route and the airport”, the state news agency WAM reported.
- The attorney general said the suspect had worked for several airlines in different countries in the past, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, before joining flydubai in January 2026.
- UAE and Israeli authorities, as well as flydubai, did not immediately respond to requests for comment when Reuters reported on the investigation.
- UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the investigation established that the 29-year-old suspect had prepared for the attack in advance and had taken two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and the airport, according to the Emirates News Agency.
- Fri, Oct 09, 2026 | Rabi al-Thani 27, 1448 | Fajr 04:57 | DXB 31.2 °C The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv planned to hijack the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to cause mass casualties, UAE prosecutors said.
- A Flydubai co-pilot attempted to seize control of a passenger jet and crash it into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport in a premeditated suicide attack, UAE prosecutors have said.
- Flight FZ1073, carrying 174 passengers, was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with an emergency axe, prosecutors said.
- This screengrab from Narendra Modi YouTube Channel shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking with FlyDubai pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
- The aim was to cause “the greatest possible loss of life” in an act inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Al-Shamsi said in a report on the UAE state news agency.
- Al-Hammami was employed by Oman Air from 2020 to 2024 and joined Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc in early 2025 before moving to FlyDubai in January this year.
- “He was influenced by takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks,” the investigators found.
What's still developing
- GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi offers his view You are here Home uae prosecutor omani flydubai co pilot planned suicide attack on ben gurion airport UAE prosecutor: Omani FlyDubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Ben Gurion airport The FlyDubai flight suffered damage to its rudder during the attack. (Social media) Short Url https://arab.news/62ygh Updated 9 October 2026 20:03 reuters October 9, 2026 19:57 Follow The UAE Attorney General confirmed that the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight was an Omani national, as reported by the UAE’s state news agency.
- Report us Related Topics Terror United Arab Emirates flydubai Ben Gurion Airport The United Arab Emirates' attorney general confirmed Friday that the Omani co-pilot who attempted to seize control of a Flydubai passenger jet intended to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport, revealing that his Islamist radicalization had begun years earlier while he was studying in Australia.
- JERUSALEM/DUBAI/TEL AVIV—Passengers on a flydubai flight reached Israel safely on Wednesday after customers and crew foiled a co-pilot's attempt to crash the aircraft, Israeli officials said, in a struggle that began when he stabbed the pilot and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
- One hundred and seventy-four Israeli passengers were returned to Ben-Gurion Airport Tuesday evening after a stunning series of events in which multiple passengers helped restrain an Omani hijacker -pilot who attempted to crash the airplane earlier in the day.
- The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers, including 27 children.
- Updated on: October 5, 2026 / 12:47 PM EDT / CBS News The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack a FlyDubai flight to Israel told interrogators in the United Arab Emirates last week that he planned the attack even before he was employed by the Emirati airline more than a year ago, according to an Israeli official.
- TEL AVIV — The pilot who allegedly tried to bring down an Israel-bound flight had been planning a 9/11-style attack by crashing into the country’s main airport in Tel Aviv, a Middle Eastern official has told NBC News.
- Earlier Saturday, the co-pilot was identified as an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami by three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf and a Western diplomat.
- Flydubai itself has confirmed an “altercation”, but urged people not to speculate.
- “He immediately intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and several passengers, and together they rescued the injured captain and restrained the suspect,” Al-Shamsi said.