Indian captain, reserve pilot, crew members and passengers reportedly thwarted an alleged suicide attack inspired by the September 11, 2001, terror strikes.
Abu Dhabi/New Delhi, October 2026 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has disclosed fresh details of an alleged conspiracy to hijack a Dubai-Tel Aviv passenger aircraft and crash it into the terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack reportedly inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
According to UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the alleged plot was planned by Hamam Al Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot travelling aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. The suspect allegedly intended to seize control of the aircraft and carry out the attack on September 30.
The UAE state news agency WAM reported that Al Hammami had travelled to Tel Aviv on two previous flights to familiarise himself with the route and the airport before allegedly attempting to execute the plan.
The aircraft was being flown by Indian captain Smit Machchhar when the alleged incident unfolded inside the cockpit. According to details released by UAE authorities, the suspect allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
The situation was brought under control after Machchhar resisted the assault. A reserve pilot, a cabin crew member and passengers reportedly intervened, helping prevent the alleged hijacking from succeeding.
With the captain under attack, the reserve pilot took charge of the aircraft and managed to land it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, averting what could have been a catastrophic incident.
The UAE authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged conspiracy to establish the circumstances surrounding the attempted hijacking and the preparations reportedly made by the accused.
Investigators are also examining whether the suspect acted alone or had accomplices. The probe is expected to look into possible links with other individuals or organisations that may have been involved in planning the alleged attack.
The revelations have drawn attention to the potential security implications of the suspected plot and the actions of the flight crew and passengers during the incident. Their intervention reportedly prevented the aircraft from being taken over and enabled it to reach safety.
The case also raises questions about the alleged preparations made before the flight, including the suspect’s reported previous visits to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and airport.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about possible accomplices or the broader findings of the investigation. The allegations remain subject to the ongoing inquiry.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
