Report: FlyDubai Terror Pilot Planned Ben Gurion Crash as Early as July
Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned to crash a FlyDubai flight at Ben Gurion Airport, with the attempt thwarted by crew and passengers.
Jerusalem, 4 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — According to Israeli officials cited in a Sunday report, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned to carry out a mass-casualty attack in Israel as early as July, ultimately intending to crash the FlyDubai aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. Investigators believe he delayed the operation because of a personal connection to a member of the flight crew.
Al-Hammami reportedly chose FlyDubai after researching which airlines operated flights to Tel Aviv. He allegedly planned to kill the captain, take control of the aircraft, and continue its normal route toward Israel before crashing. Other reports said his intended target may have been skyscrapers in Tel Aviv.
Israeli sources said al-Hammami had visited Israel in June and prepared himself for the attack. The September 30 attempt was thwarted when the injured Indian captain and passengers fought back, allowing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.