Hammam al-Hammami, the co-pilot who attempted to seize control of the Flydubai flight bound for Israel, allegedly planned to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport with the aim of causing mass casualties, according to findings from the ongoing investigation cited by Israeli officials. According to the same information, reported by the YNET network, al-Hammami only initiated his attempt to seize the aircraft after it entered Jordanian airspace — because he reportedly planned to continue the flight normally toward Israel, giving the impression that the plane would land at Ben Gurion, before crashing it there.
Flydubai: The co-pilot’s backup plan and the attack he allegedly plotted
If he had failed to reach Tel Aviv’s airport, investigators believe he had planned to direct the aircraft toward a U.S. military base in Jordan. The investigation also revealed that the Omani pilot had allegedly been planning the attack since July, but postponed it due to a personal relationship he had with one of the crew members on that specific flight. According to the same sources, he decided at the time to “spare” that person and wait for another opportunity.
Evidence gathered so far also indicates that al-Hammami had previously landed in Israel in June and was preparing for what he personally viewed as a “martyr” operation. His plan to crash Flydubai flight FZ1023 was thwarted thanks to the swift response of Israeli passengers and the flight crew, who ultimately managed to land the aircraft safely. Crucial to stopping him was the resistance of Indian captain Smit Mahar, who suffered a violent attack inside the cockpit.
According to investigators, al-Hammami had planned to strike the captain repeatedly with an emergency axe until he lost consciousness, after which he intended to take control of the aircraft and crash it into his chosen target.
Israeli Channel 13 reported that al-Hammami allegedly told investigators he had deliberately sought employment with an airline that operated flights to Tel Aviv. “I searched and checked which company flies to Tel Aviv, and that is why I chose Flydubai,” he reportedly stated. “I tried to get hired by every airline. I had planned the operation even before I was hired by the company.”
