The United Arab Emirates (UAE) released preliminary findings stating that Hamam al-Hammami, 29, the co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv who allegedly attempted to hijack the plane on September 30, was inspired by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Al-Hammami planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport's passenger terminal, aiming to cause mass casualties similar to those in the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The investigation revealed al-Hammami had previously flown to Ben Gurion twice and began moving towards extremism while studying in Australia in 2017, influenced by extremist online content.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv signaled an emergency while flying over Jordan and turned around towards Saudi Arabia, landing at Tabuk Airport. The Israeli Air Force scrambled jets due to fears of hijacking but later confirmed the incident was caused by a fight between two pilots in the cockpit. The plane carried approximately 150 passengers, mostly Israelis, who remained safe throughout the event. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held emergency consultations regarding the situation, and an Israeli security official stated that details would become clearer once the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Written for “Israel Bound Flight Diverted Emergency” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 344 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
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No political leaning scored for article 69858 · logged 2026-10-10
The co-pilot and alleged hijacker of a flydubai flight and crash it into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport was inspired by the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US, according to preliminary findings released by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
uncertain
pilot → allege → Emirates
Hamam al-Hammami, 29, who was serving as the co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, allegedly planned to take control of the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport.
uncertain
who → serve → Airport
According to a statement by UAE attorney general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, shared by Emirati state media, al-Hammami wanted to carry out an attack similar to the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in the US 25 years ago.
uncertain
which → accord → US
Four commercial planes were hijacked during those attacks and crashed at three locations.
“The idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his mind, which, according to his confessions, was connected to his decision to pursue a career in aviation,” Friday’s statement said.
uncertain
statement → hijack → aviation
The co-pilot allegedly planned “a premeditated plot with a terrorist objective, aimed at taking control of the aircraft and using it to carry out a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport,” with the aim of causing “the greatest possible number of casualties,” the statement added.
uncertain
statement → plan → casualties
The preliminary investigation found that the September 30 flight was not al-Hammami’s first trip to Ben Gurion Airport.
asserted
flight → find → Airport
He had reportedly taken part in two earlier flights to the airport to familiarise himself with the route and the airport before carrying out the alleged attack.
uncertain
He → take → attack
An Israeli official and another source familiar with the matter had earlier told CNN that the suspected hijacker likely intended to target the airport, Israel’s main international gateway.
asserted
hijacker → tell → airport
The alleged hijacking attempt was stopped after the captain and several passengers restrained al-Hammami and regained control of the aircraft.
asserted
captain → stop → aircraft
How the co-pilot became radicalised
asserted
pilot → become → ?
The UAE investigation found that al-Hammami began moving towards extremism and terrorism in 2017, while studying in Australia.
asserted
Hammami → find → Australia
He was reportedly influenced by extremist publications and online content that praised terrorist groups and suicide attacks.
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that → influence → groups
According to the statement, he “prepared himself psychologically and physically to carry out his plot by increasing his exposure to material inciting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.”
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he → accord → coach
Investigators also examined his employment history with different airlines.
asserted
Investigators → examine → airlines
Al-Hammami worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024.
asserted
Hammami → work → 2024
He joined Royal Air Maroc in 2025 but worked there for only a few months before moving to Flydubai in January 2026, according to the UAE statement.
uncertain
He → join → statement
A source had earlier told CNN that Oman Air removed al-Hammami from flight training because of concerns about his radical views and assigned him another role at the airline.
asserted
Air → tell → airline
In a statement to the Associated Press last week, Royal Air Maroc said al-Hammami had undergone three months of training with the airline in 2025 as part of its pre-employment process but was not selected for a job.
asserted
Hammami → say → job
Flydubai recruitment procedures under scrutiny
The UAE investigation also examined how Flydubai hired al-Hammami.
asserted
Flydubai → examine → Hammami
Investigators found that he had met the professional and security requirements for the job, including holding a pilot’s licence, possessing a certificate of good conduct and passing the required examinations.
asserted
he → find → examinations
“There were “no indications emerging during those procedures that revealed his extremist inclinations or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot,” attorney general Al Shamsi said, according to Emirati state media.
uncertain
Shamsi → be → media
Al-Hammami told investigators that he had acted alone, but authorities are still checking his claim.
uncertain
authorities → tell → claim
The Aporia
