Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned 9/11-Style Attack on Israeli Tower

The co-pilot of a flydubai flight, accused of stabbing his pilot in an attempted hijacking, planned to crash the aircraft into an Israeli tower in an attack reminiscent of 9/11, according to reports.

Hamam al-Hammami, 29, allegedly intended to murder pilot Smit Machhar and then continue the plane's scheduled route from Dubai to Tel Aviv unnoticed before flying it into one of the Azrieli towers. These towers are located a short distance from Israel's military headquarters.

Israeli authorities believe Hammami had premeditated the attack long before being hired by flydubai, where he worked for less than a year. He had previously flown a route to Tel Aviv earlier this year and considered hijacking and crashing the plane then but ultimately did not, sources told Reuters. The reason for this change of mind is unclear, but it is believed that Hammami recognized someone on board during that flight.

Hammami reportedly told investigators that he also considered landing the plane at Ben Gurion International Airport and crashing into the terminal if intercepting the aircraft became impossible. This potential scenario is why he allegedly attacked Machhar when the flight was only 10 minutes from Israel, according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Machchar, who is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, recounted to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hammami had prayed in the cockpit shortly before the attack on Wednesday, September 30. Machchar, 38, initially thought the plane had been hit but realized he was being assaulted by his co-pilot when the attacks were relentless.

The incident caused the Boeing 737, carrying 174 people, to descend approximately 17,000 feet in a matter of minutes as Machchar fought for his life. Passengers on board, identified as Israeli, intervened by tackling and restraining Hammami and assisting the injured pilot. Two pilots then took control of the aircraft and successfully executed an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Investigators are examining how Hammami, described as a radical Islamist with past support for al-Qaeda, was able to be employed. Israeli intelligence typically vets pilots flying into the country, and individuals from nations with which Israel has no diplomatic ties are barred.

Hammami received his education in Australia before returning to his home country and working for Oman Air. Reports indicate he was later moved to a different role amid concerns about his radical views.

He reportedly told investigators in the UAE, "I tried to get hired by all the airlines. I checked which ones flew to Tel Aviv. That's why I chose flydubai. I planned [the operation] even before I was hired."

Netanyahu stated that Hammami appeared to be on a "suicidal mission" and pleaded with the crew to kill him after he was subdued with a headphone cord. Some experts have criticized Israeli intelligence for the apparent security lapse, although a former senior Mossad official denied the spy group's responsibility.

There are reports of inter-agency disputes in Israel between the Ministry of Transportation, Mossad, Shin Bet, and other bodies, with Netanyahu indicating that officials are working to identify the "loophole" that allowed Hammami to bypass security checks.

Investigators suspect Hammami acted as a "lone wolf" rather than on behalf of a terror group, a source told the Jerusalem Post. He is currently being questioned in the UAE, where he may face the death penalty.