Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Israeli airport, UAE prosecutors say
UAE prosecutors report that a Flydubai co-pilot attempted a suicide attack on an Israeli airport after becoming radicalized by extremist ideology. The assailant attacked the pilot with an axe mid-flight, but passengers and crew managed to regain control and land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the ongoing threat of aviation-based terrorism and the challenges of monitoring radicalization within the airline industry.
Hammam al-Hammami attacked the plane’s Indian pilot with an emergency axe. Hammam al-Hammami attacked the plane’s Indian pilot with an emergency axe. Flydubai plane incident Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Israeli airport, UAE prosecutors say Hammam al-Hammami is believed to have been targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv
Prefer the Guardian on Google The co-pilot who tried to seize control of a passenger jet flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv last week was planning to launch a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Israel’s international airport, prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates said on Friday.
Hammam al-Hammami attacked the plane’s Indian pilot with an emergency axe, but failed to prevent his badly injured colleague from opening the cockpit’s security door to allow passengers to overpower his assailant.
Also covering this story
7 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Israel To Honour Captain Smit Machchhar With Presidential Award For Heroism
FlyDubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport, inspired by 9/11, prosecutor says
FlyDubai co-pilot sought to crash plane into Tel Aviv's main airport: UAE
UAE: Omani flydubai pilot targeted Ben-Gurion Airport in suicide attack attempt
Flydubai co-pilot plotted ‘suicide’ attack on Israel, UAE says
Flydubai cockpit attack: Israel to honour Capt Smit with top civilian bravery award
Israel to honour Capt. Smit Machchhar with civilian heroism award
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in