Accused FlyDubai attacker says crashing a plane was his ‘dream’ years before becoming a pilot
It was a "dream" he wanted to turn into a reality.
A FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, Israel, descended into chaos last week when a co-pilot attempted to seize control of the aircraft after attacking its captain, causing the plane to suddenly plunge in altitude within seconds. The co-pilot has since been taken into custody, and the subsequent investigation revealed that he had harbored a “dream” of crashing a plane directly onto Tel Aviv’s airport.
According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, the attack was not a spontaneous act by 29-year-old Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami, but rather the result of careful planning and research conducted well before he was hired by a company. Al-Hammami revealed during interrogation that he researched which airlines flew to Tel Aviv and applied as a pilot before ultimately securing a role with FlyDubai.
“I tried to get hired by all the airlines,” al-Hammami told investigators. “I planned the operation even before I was accepted by the company.”
FlyDubai hijacker allegedly attempted attack reminiscent of 9/11
Al-Hammami reportedly visited Ben-Gurion Airport dozens of times while working as a pilot in the months leading up to the attack. In July, he made a final visit to the country to gather intelligence, and days later, he intended to crash the plane on Israeli soil.
Al-Hammami, however, reconsidered the hijacking because one of the crew members, someone he supposedly had a close relationship with, was aboard the flight at the time. Yet, the pilot remained intent on causing devastation and postponed the attack to September.
While speaking to investigators, al-Hammami reportedly admitted one of his twisted ambitions: “The dream was to crash into Ben-Gurion Airport.” Although Ynet reports that al-Hammami also had plans to smash the plane into one of Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers, likely the Azrieli Towers, in an attack reminiscent of the Twin Towers in New York City.
Unlike the 9/11 tragedy, investigators believe that al-Hammami wasn’t under any orders from a terrorist group, but planned the attack of his own accord. His initial plan was reportedly to attack Captain Smit Machchhar discreetly, then quickly redirect the aircraft to strike one of the Israeli buildings, acting fast enough to avoid alerting authorities to the hijacking.
Al-Hammami’s plan was eventually foiled by Machchhar, whom he allegedly attacked with an emergency crash axe. Machchhar was able to open the cockpit and alert the crew members and passengers to al-Hammami’s hijacking attempt.
Pilot may face death penalty
Al-Hammami is currently on United Arab Emirates (UAE) soil, with Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi leading the investigation. Omani, Israeli, and Saudi Arabian intelligence agents are also questioning the pilot. U.S. intelligence agents are said to have landed in the UAE, although it remains unclear if they will join the interrogation.
The prosecution is reportedly gunning for the death penalty, a senior Emirati source told Ynet. While the motive behind the hijacking is still being investigated, investigators deem it a terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that al-Hammami had exhibited concerning behavior even before joining FlyDubai. He was reportedly fired from Oman Air after allegedly being found in possession of extremist material. According to The Telegraph, al-Hammami had also posted on social media expressing antisemitic views and promoting violence against women.
The incident has sparked questions about aviation security and criticism over the apparent lack of thorough pilot vetting between agencies—it is especially concerning when officials fail to run background checks on pilots who were suspiciously dismissed from previous employment. Investigators are now looking into al-Hammami’s hiring at FlyDubai as more questions are raised.
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