flydubai Plane Incident: New details have emerged in the flydubai case, with Israeli media reports providing fresh details about the crash plot by Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami. It has come to light that the co-pilot had planned the attack before joining the airline and had selected Flydubai because it operated flights to Tel Aviv and intended to target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Ben Gurion Airport Was Main Target
According to Israeli media reports, al-Hammami told UAE investigators that he planned to continue the flight normally after attacking the captain. His aim was to avoid raising suspicion and obtain the necessary clearance to land at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The reports added that he intended to deliberately crash the aircraft into a building or another aircraft at the airport in an attack similar to the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US.
Ynet, citing sources, reported that he attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar while the aircraft was flying over Jordan and approaching Israel. The timing was chosen so that there would be little opportunity for authorities to understand what was happening or intervene. He further told investigators that if he could not carry out the attack at the airport, he had considered crashing the aircraft into a high-rise building in Tel Aviv.
Plan Foiled As Captain Fought Back
The co-pilot also reportedly mentioned US military facilities in Jordan as another possible target. However, his plan was foiled after Machchhar, despite being injured, fought back and raised an alarm. He also managed to open the cockpit top, allowing crew members and passengers to intervene. Two off-duty pilots subsequently helped operate the aircraft which was then landed in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk.
Attack Was Delayed Earlier
Israeli Channel 12, citing sources, reported that al-Hammami had initially considered carrying out the attack in July but postponed it at the last moment. As per the report, his decision was influenced by his friendship with one of the crew members. He had reportedly travelled to Ben Gurion Airport several times in the months before the incident after joining flydubai.
During a visit to Israel in June, he spent much of his time gathering information and studying the location as part of his plan. The report added that he specifically looked for an airline operating flight to Tel Aviv and chose flydubai because of its route network. He even planned the attack before joining the airline
"I looked into which airline flies to Tel Aviv. That's why I chose Flydubai. I planned it even before I was accepted," he told investigators The reports further said he had planned to kill Captain inside the cockpit before taking control of the aircraft.
You May Also Like To Watch: