Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Crash
Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked captain with emergency axe, intended to crash into Tel Aviv airport or tower block. Investigation underway in multiple countries.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
The co-pilot of a flydubai plane, Hamam al-Hammami, planned to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport or a tower block, according to US and Israeli investigators.
Al-Hammami, an Omani national, attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency crash axe approximately two hours and 20 minutes after takeoff from Dubai.
The plane, carrying over 180 passengers, mostly Israeli, was diverted to a regional airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where al-Hammami was detained.
Al-Hammami told investigators he intended to continue flying the plane as normal into Israeli airspace and receive landing clearances before crashing it.
He had originally planned the attack for July but postponed it, possibly because a friend was among the crew, regional and Israeli officials said.
Police and security agencies in at least six countries are investigating al-Hammami's background and intentions.
Al-Hammami spent time in Australia and New Zealand as a young man, and authorities in both countries are investigating his links to the countries.
Key facts
- Hamam al-Hammami planned to crash flydubai plane into Tel Aviv airport or tower block
- Al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with emergency crash axe
- Plane diverted to Saudi Arabia, where al-Hammami was detained
- Investigation underway in multiple countries
Three perspectives
Neutral
The incident has raised concerns about security lapses and the recruitment process of airlines. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to establish the full circumstances and motives behind the attack.
Positive
The swift action of the passengers and the reserve pilot who took control of the aircraft prevented a potential disaster. The cooperation between authorities in multiple countries is a positive step in investigating the incident.
Negative
The attack has highlighted weaknesses in airline security and the potential for extremist individuals to infiltrate the industry. The fact that al-Hammami was able to plan and execute the attack without being detected is a cause for concern.
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