Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates announced on Friday that the Flydubai co-pilot who attempted to seize control of a passenger jet last week was planning a suicide attack on the passenger terminal at Israel’s international airport.
Hammam al-Hammami, who is in Emirate custody, admitted to trying to execute a “premeditated terrorist plot to … launch a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life,” according to Dr Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, attorney-general of the UAE.
Al-Hammami attacked the plane’s Indian pilot with an emergency axe. The pilot, despite being injured, opened the cockpit’s security door, allowing passengers to overpower al-Hammami. An off-duty relief pilot, among the approximately 180 passengers, then safely landed the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
The 29-year-old, an Omani national hired by Flydubai in January 2026, reportedly began a process of radicalisation while studying in Australia. Al-Shamsi stated that al-Hammami was influenced by hardline ideology through extremist literature and online content, leading to ideas advocating violence and terrorism. He also drew inspiration from the 11 September 2001 attacks, linking this to his decision to pursue an aviation career.
Australian and New Zealand authorities have launched investigations into al-Hammami's time as a student in Australia until 2017 and his flight training in New Zealand. Emirati authorities believe al-Hammami acted alone, though investigations are ongoing to verify this claim. Investigators found al-Hammami had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and airport.