Al Qaeda called for copycat attacks on Americans and Israeli airliners in a vile post referencing 9/11 and praising the Dubai flight hijacker — whose social media accounts shared photos of one of the terror group’s leaders.
The call appeared to come Friday in the latest edition of al-Bayan, a weekly publication launched in July by pro-Al Qaeda supporters, which invoked both the Sept. 11 attacks and Wednesday’s attempted takeover of Flydubai Flight FZ1073.
“The war isn’t over yet — planes carrying Zionists, Americans and all the other infidels fighting against Islam are still hovering in the skies and can be targeted, as happened on September 11th and 30th,” the Arabic-language article threatened.
The post called for copycat attacks after Wednesday’s hijacking.
The article included an image of a plane crashing into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, alongside an image referencing Wednesday’s attack on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight.
“America and the Zionists have far more enemies today than before,” the article said. “Perhaps a man who does not believe in God will target them and his operation will ultimately benefit Islam.”
It added: “The day will come when the empire of evil America will end.”
The publication’s Telegram channels appeared to be circulating the post Saturday before it was apparently taken down.
Here’s the latest on the Israel-bound plane suspected terror attack:
Terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann, who initially told The Post the group appeared to be trying to capitalize on the Flydubai attack, said the social-media material linked to accused co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami added a significant new wrinkle.
“It’s interesting, if this is accurate, then he probably isn’t an ISIS supporter,” Kohlmann said.
“I think what stands out to me most here is the reference to Humam al-Balawi.”
Hamam al-Hammami tried to hijack a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Linkedin/HAMAM AL HAMMAMI
About nine hours after the Flydubai terror plot was thwarted — while Hamam al-Hammami was already in custody — a burst of posts appeared on his LinkedIn and Instagram accounts before both were deleted.
It remains unclear who published the posts or whether they had been scheduled in advance, CNN reported.
One featured cockpit video clips zooming in on nearby Israeli aircraft before ending with an image of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al Qaeda chief who succeeded Osama bin Laden and was killed in 2022.
This post featuring the late Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri went out on al-Hammami’s socials, before his accounts were deleted. Hamam Al Hammami/LinkedIn
The material also contained the reference to al-Balawi that caught Kohlmann’s attention.
Kohlmann described al-Balawi as a largely self-made Al Qaeda supporter who first built a reputation on jihadist internet forums before eventually establishing direct ties to the terror group after becoming an intelligence asset for Jordan and, ultimately, the CIA.
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Al-Balawi, a doctor, stunned intelligence officials when he carried out a suicide bombing on behalf of Al Qaeda, Kohlmann said.
“It was a shock to everyone that someone from that kind of professional, successful background would blow himself up on behalf of Al-Qaida,” he said.
The reference could be significant because al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani pilot, also came from a professional aviation background and had allegedly displayed extremist material before Wednesday’s attack, according to reports.
Al-Hammami is accused of attacking the captain with a cockpit crash axe and trying to seize control of the aircraft before crew members and passengers restrained him.
The jet was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely after two other Flydubai pilots aboard took control.
UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Saturday that investigators had determined the co-pilot “attempted to carry out a terrorist act,” while authorities continue probing his motive, possible links and digital evidence.
Israeli officials have separately alleged that al-Hammami underwent Islamist radicalization. Channel 12 reported that he had been indoctrinated into “al-Qaeda’s ideology,” citing sources involved in the investigation.
Sources have also alleged that extremist material had previously been found on his phone while he was associated with Oman Air, leading to restrictions on his flying duties. Oman Air and Omani authorities have not publicly substantiated those claims.
The Transportation Security Administration, when asked about the Flydubai incident, told The Post it was monitoring developments but did not specifically address the Al Qaeda call.
“TSA is aware of the security incident involving flyDubai and are closely monitoring the situation,” the agency said.
“The safety and security of passengers, employees, and aviation operations remain our highest priorities. We are coordinating with appropriate aviation, law enforcement, and international partners to assess available information.”
Despite the Al Qaeda imagery and rhetoric now surrounding the case, no public evidence has established that al-Hammami was acting on orders from the terror group.
The UAE investigation is still examining whether al-Hammami had outside links or direction.