(TNND) — The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of an Israel-bound flight with a crash axe allegedly planned to seize control of the plane and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to a preliminary investigation.
Hamam al-Hammami began showing interest in extremism and terrorism in 2017 while studying in Australia, United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said in a statement shared by Emirati state media.
Al-Hammami was influenced by takfiri ideology after reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks, the statement said.
“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,” the statement said.
Investigators said al-Hammami had devised “a premeditated plot with a terrorist objective” to take control of the aircraft and carry out a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, intending to cause “the greatest possible number of casualties.”
The investigation also found that he took two previous flights to Ben Gurion Airport to familiarize himself with the route and airport.
Al-Hammami allegedly admitted that he acted alone and gave investigators a detailed confession outlining his motives and the stages of the plot in the presence of his lawyer. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing to determine whether he had accomplices or other links.
Capt. Smit Machchhar was able to open the cockpit door after the alleged attack, allowing an additional pilot, a cabin crew member and passengers to intervene and restrain al-Hammami. The plane, carrying 182 people, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The attorney general said FlyDubai’s professional and security screening did not reveal any indication that al-Hammami held extremist views or intended to carry out an attack. He had met the airline’s employment requirements, including holding a flight license, certificate of good conduct and required medical clearances, according to the statement.
Earlier this month, the Australian Federal Police told ABC Australia that a joint counterterrorism team — including federal and state police and Australia’s domestic intelligence agency — is investigating al-Hammami’s links to Australia.
Australian news outlets have reported that al-Hammami received a student visa in 2014, arrived the following year to begin a university course and left in 2017. His visa was canceled in 2019 after authorities confirmed he was no longer enrolled, according to those reports.