Hamam al-Hammami, the copilot accused of trying to hijack and crash a flydubai aircraft bound for Israel, stated during interrogation that he had researched which airlines operate routes to Tel Aviv and consequently chose flydubai, an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
“I tried to get hired by all the airlines. I planned the operation even before I was accepted by the company,” the pilot said during interrogation.
“The dream was to crash into Ben-Gurion Airport,” Hammami added.
In recent months, Hammami had been frequenting Ben-Gurion Airport in the course of his work as a pilot.
One of his final visits to Israel took place around July the gather intelligence and prepare to carry out the attack.
A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, on the tarmac as it arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Days later, he flew a plane to Israel, intending to crash it within the country’s territory. However, due to his closeness to one of the crew members, he was overcome by a severe crisis of conscience and postponed the attack until late September.
Hammami also planned to deliberately crash into Tel Aviv skyscrapers, Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera reported on Sunday, citing Israeli intelligence.
Hammami’s plan was to kill the pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, without attracting attention, then fly along the planned route to Tel Aviv before crashing into the city’s buildings.
Israeli authorities are working on the assumption that Hammami was a “lone wolf” actor who attempted to crash the plane on his own initiative, rather than acting on the orders of any terror group, a source told The Jerusalem Post.
The operation was planned to be so quick that fighter jets couldn’t intervene, the Italian outlet stated.
Instead, after Hammami attacked Machchhar with an emergency crash axe, almost severing his arm, and attempted to crash the plane by first manipulating the control stick and then cutting both engines, Machchhar helped passengers secure Hamami and the aircraft, according to the report.
Flydubai pilot, capt. Smit Machchhar. (credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)Hamami previously fired from Oman Air for extremist views
Hammami had previously worked for Oman Air before he was fired for his views, described as too close to Islamic extremism, before being hired by flydubai eight months ago, according to Corriere Della Sera.
Australian authorities are currently conducting an investigation into whether or not Hammami had been radicalized while in the country.
“The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, can confirm it is investigating the man’s links to Australia. An update will be provided at an appropriate time,” an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesperson said, referring to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
The Financial Times reported on Sunday that Hammami had allegedly visited radical mosques and extremist websites while in Australia, citing two people familiar with the investigation.
Australian intelligence services held a file on the individual, according to the FT.
Reuters contributed to this report.