Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates say an Omani co-pilot who attacked his captain mid-air on a September 30 flight to Tel Aviv planned a suicide crash targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, drawing inspiration from the September 11 attacks.
Hammam al-Hammami’s Confession and the 9/11 Inspiration
United Arab Emirates Attorney General Dr. Hamad Saif al-Shamsi revealed that the 29-year-old co-pilot, identified as Hammam al-Hammami, admitted to executing a premeditated plot to crash the Boeing 737 MAX-8 into the main passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life. According to Emirati public prosecutors, al-Hammami drew inspiration from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States after becoming radicalized while studying in Australia.
The UAE Attorney General’s Office noted that al-Hammami met all professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a valid pilot’s license, submitting a certificate of good conduct, and completing background checks that failed to reveal any indications of extremist views or intentions.
In the presence of his lawyer and with all legally prescribed safeguards ensured, the suspect provided a detailed confession outlining his motives and the stages of planning and execution. He admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others, although investigations are continuing to verify this claim.
Dr. Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, Attorney-General of the UAE
Cockpit Assault and the Plunge Over Saudi Arabia
Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai at 7:05 a.m. local time on September 30, carrying 172 or upwards of 180 people on board—the vast majority of whom were Israeli citizens. While the aircraft was flying at 34,000 feet over Saudi Arabia, al-Hammami attacked his captain with an emergency crash axe in an attempt to take control of the passenger jet.
Flight-tracking data shows the Boeing aircraft descended rapidly from 33,000 feet before making an erratic circle close to the Jordanian border.
The Indian airline captain described how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a steep descent.
As the captain repeatedly managed to unlock the armored door, al-Hammami slammed it shut each time, until an off-duty relief pilot and passengers gained entry, subdued the assailant, and transferred the flight for a safe landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Diplomatic Fallout and Intelligence Investigations
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated that if Iran were determined to have been behind the attack, the United States would hit them “very hard,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. officials also mused about potential links between the attacker and Iran. Israeli authorities joined Saudi and Emirati officials in interrogating the attacker after he was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, with Israeli intelligence officials participating directly in the investigation.
Netanyahu noted that the suspect had flown to Israel in the past and ordered a security review of international flights operating into the country.
Honoring Captain Machchhar and the Passengers in Jerusalem
The same civilian medal was presented during the Jerusalem ceremony to six individuals on board the flight, including passengers who helped subdue the attacker.