Flydubai pilot who attacked captain confesses plan to crash plane with 174 passengers
The Flydubai co-pilot who attacked the captain on a September 30 flight has told investigators he planned to crash the aircraft at an airport in Israel, or hit a backup target if that failed. He had spent months preparing the attack, hoping to become a 'martyr'.
A pilot of the United Arab Emirates airline Flydubai, who seriously injured the captain during a September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, has revealed to investigators what he intended to do with the aircraft and its 174 passengers.
According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, citing officials, 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al Hammami planned to continue the flight as normal and, at the very last moment, crash the plane into Israel's main airport. He reportedly waited until the aircraft entered Jordanian airspace before attacking the captain, Indian national Sumeet Sachdeva. Had he failed to reach Israel, al Hammami allegedly planned to instead target a US military base in Jordan.
Months of preparation
The Times of Israel reports the pilot had repeatedly visited Ben Gurion Airport, and from June onward focused entirely on gathering information and planning the attack, hoping to become a 'martyr'. He had originally intended to carry out the attack in July but postponed it after forming a friendship with a crew member he decided to 'spare', waiting instead for another opportunity.
Channel 13 reported that al Hammami told investigators he had deliberately sought work at an airline flying to Tel Aviv, which is why he chose Flydubai. He reportedly said he had been planning the operation even before the company hired him. ABC News adds that he had previously been suspended from Oman Air, where he was flagged as a security risk.
A possible skyscraper scenario
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, citing Israeli intelligence sources, earlier reported that the pilot may have planned to crash the plane into a skyscraper, similar to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Al Hammami reportedly told UAE investigators he wanted to attack the captain at the last possible moment so no one could stop his plan, then obtain landing clearance and crash the aircraft into either an airport terminal or another plane.
