A harrowing mid-air confrontation aboard a Flydubai flight may have been an attempted terror plot, with investigators revealing that the co-pilot allegedly planned to murder the aircraft's captain and crash the plane into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport or a high-rise tower in Tel Aviv.
According to a report by Italian daily Corriere della Sera, citing an Israeli intelligence source, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami intended to carry out the attack during Flight FZ1073. Investigators believe Hammami deliberately waited until the aircraft had secured all necessary air traffic clearances, intending to strike at the final moment to avoid raising suspicion before steering the airliner into a catastrophic descent.
During interrogations with Emirati authorities, Hammami reportedly confessed that he deliberately sought employment with Flydubai because the carrier operates direct routes to Tel Aviv, admitting that he had been conceiving the attack even prior to joining the airline. Intelligence findings further revealed that the co-pilot had scouted the area, having visited Ben Gurion Airport multiple times in recent months.
The catastrophic scheme was averted through the swift actions of Indian Captain Smit Machchhar. Despite sustaining stab wounds inflicted by the co-pilot inside the flight deck, Machchhar managed to unlock and open the cockpit door. Passengers promptly intervened and overpowered Hammami, while two off-duty pilots traveling on the flight stepped in to help secure the cockpit and safely navigate the aircraft.
Hammami remains in custody in the United Arab Emirates, where interrogations are ongoing. Israeli authorities are actively coordinating with UAE and Saudi investigators to uncover the full scope of the plot and any broader network affiliations.