A Flydubai pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attempted to hijack a passenger aircraft on Wednesday to crash it into Ben-Gurion Airport. During the violent struggle, Captain Smit Machchhar was severely wounded by an onboard axe as the plane lost 14,000 feet in altitude.
A 9/11-style strike on the Azrieli Towers
The proposed attack by Hamam al-Hammami was designed to mimic the September 11 terrorist strikes on the United States. According to a source speaking to The Jerusalem Post, al-Hammami intended to fly the aircraft into one of the Azrieli Towers in central Tel Aviv, targeting a location near the Kirya, which serves as Israel's military headquarters.
As reported by the Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera, Israeli intelligence suggests the pilot's plan included killing Captain Smit Machchhar from behind a locked cockpit door before proceeding with the suicide mission. The aircraft reportedly plummeted 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds during the incident, which began over Jordan approximately 10 minutes before reaching the Israeli border.
Premeditated infiltration of Flydubai and other airlines
Investigation into the hijacking suggests al-Hammami's plot began long before his employment with Flydubai. Israeli sources claim the 29-year-old had been planning the attack even before he was accepted as a pilot, and had reportedly attempted to secure positions at several other airlines to facilitate his goal.
Al-Hammami's history in the aviation industry includes a stint as a trainee with Oman Air in 2024, following his studies at Buckinghamshire New University. He reportedly traveled to Ben-Gurion Airport on multiple occasions, including a trip in July, to gather intelligence for his intended strike.
Extremist rhetoric and Al Qaeda symbolism
Social media activity linked to the deleted "Pilot Hamam al-Hammami" account revealed a pattern of extremist views and violent rhetoric. The posts included aggressive comments regarding women and comparisons between domestic violence and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The digital footprint of the pilot also contained direct references to Al Qaeda leadership. One post featured images of Ayman al-Zawahiri and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, the latter of whom was responsible for a 2009 suicide bombing. Al-Hammami reportedly used the name of the suicide bomber in a post that listed his various training locations, including Dubai and London.
The vetting gap at Oman Air and Flydubai
Serious questions remain regarding how aviation authorities failed to flag al-Hammami's radicalization during his previous employment. While officials at Oman Air reportedly removed him from flying duties due to concerns about his time in Syria, he was subsequently moved to an administrative role rather than being barred from the industry entirely.
It remains unclear how al-Hammami successfully passed the background checks required for his role at Flydubai.. Furthermore, while Israeli intelligence has provided a detailed account of the pilot's motivations, the official response from Flydubai regarding their internal security protocols and the specific circumstances of the cockpit breach has not yet been fully detailed.
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