The co-pilot of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 planned to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, according to reports from US and Israeli media sources involved in a multinational investigation.
The Omani co-pilot, identified as Hamam Al-Hammami, is believed to have acted alone. After attacking captain Smit Machchhar with an axe, Al-Hammami intended to follow normal approach procedures before crashing the plane, which had over 180 passengers on board.
Sources say the co-pilot had been preparing for the attack for several months and previously travelled to Israel to gather information. There are also claims that he considered crashing another flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year before abandoning those plans.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that Israel has requested the UAE to expand its questioning to include the flight crew. This comes amid ongoing inquiries into the crucial moments when passengers rushed into the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and stabilised the aircraft after the co-pilot’s assault.
UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi stated that Al-Hammami “attempted to carry out a terrorist attack” when he attacked the captain and tried to seize control of the plane. The UAE is leading the investigation, with assistance from security agencies in four regional countries, including Israel, as well as support from the US and other Western nations.
