Alleged Flydubai hijacker likely wanted to target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, sources say

The alleged hijacker of the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv likely wanted to target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international gateway, according to an Israeli official and an Israeli source familiar with the matter. Hamam al-Hammami, the suspect in the hijacking attempt and co-pilot on board the flight, was stopped by the actions of the captain and several passengers who restrained him and wrested control of the airplane. The official and the source said Israel is receiving updates from the Emiratis and that the investigation was still in its early stages. There are still questions about the suspect’s intentions, they added. Israel’s Channel 12 News first reported that Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport may have been the target of the hijacking. It’s unclear why al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, over Saudi airspace if his goal was to target an airport in Israel.