UAE Says Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Israel

Published: 10 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A co-pilot accused of attempting to seize control of a passenger aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly intended to carry out a suicide attack against Israel’s main international airport, according to prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates. The disclosure has raised serious questions about aviation security, airline recruitment procedures and the international cooperation needed to identify potential threats before they reach the cockpit.

Hammam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national employed by Dubai-based airline flydubai, is accused of attacking the aircraft’s Indian pilot with an emergency axe during a flight last week. According to UAE authorities, his alleged plan was to target the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, with the stated intention of causing the greatest possible loss of life. The attack was reportedly prevented after the injured pilot managed to open the cockpit’s security door, allowing passengers to intervene.

The aircraft was eventually brought safely to the ground in Saudi Arabia. An off-duty relief pilot travelling among approximately 180 passengers helped land the plane after the confrontation. The incident could have resulted in catastrophic consequences had the attackers’ alleged intentions succeeded, particularly given the number of people aboard and the vulnerability of an aircraft during an attempted cockpit takeover.

On Friday, Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, the attorney-general of the UAE, said the suspect had confessed to planning a premeditated terrorist operation. According to the prosecutor’s statement, al-Hammami intended to carry out a suicide attack against the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, with the objective of inflicting mass casualties.

Al-Shamsi said the suspect had provided a detailed account of his alleged motives and the stages of planning and execution. The attorney-general added that the confession was obtained in the presence of a lawyer and with legal safeguards in place. However, the authorities have emphasised that the investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations must be distinguished from findings that may ultimately be established through judicial proceedings.

The attorney-general also described what investigators believe was a process of radicalisation that began while al-Hammami was studying in Australia. According to the UAE statement, he encountered hardline takfiri ideology through extremist literature and online material that glorified terrorist organisations and suicide attacks. Authorities allege that these influences contributed to the development of ideas supporting political violence and terrorism.

The statement further claimed that al-Hammami drew inspiration from the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States. Investigators believe the idea of conducting a similar operation using an aircraft became a significant part of his thinking. According to the account attributed to his confession, this ambition was connected to his decision to pursue a career in aviation.

These allegations have intensified concerns about the possibility of individuals with extremist intentions seeking positions that provide access to aircraft, sensitive operational information and restricted airport facilities. Aviation professionals are subject to various recruitment, licensing and security requirements, but the case has prompted renewed scrutiny of how effectively those safeguards operate across different countries and employers.

Australian security agencies began investigating al-Hammami’s background after information emerged that he had spent approximately two years in Australia as a student, remaining in the country until 2017. Reports indicate that he left without completing an engineering degree. Authorities are examining whether anything during his time there could help explain the alleged radicalisation described by UAE prosecutors.

New Zealand authorities have also opened an investigation after police confirmed that al-Hammami underwent flight training in the country. The training reportedly took place about a year after he abandoned his engineering studies in Australia. The investigations in both countries are expected to focus on his activities, contacts, training history and any information that might have been available to institutions responsible for overseeing his education and aviation qualifications.

The international dimension of the case is particularly significant because al-Hammami’s professional career involved several aviation employers. According to information released about his employment history, he worked for Oman Air between 2020 and 2024. He subsequently joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025, remaining there for several months before moving to flydubai in January 2026.

He also obtained a distance-learning degree in aviation management from Buckinghamshire New University in 2023. Investigators are examining how his education, flight training, employment record and security checks were assessed at different stages of his career.

The sequence of appointments has raised questions about whether information gathered in one country was available to employers and authorities elsewhere. Aviation workers can move between airlines and jurisdictions, making the exchange of relevant security information an important part of international risk management. However, the existence of an employment history spanning several countries does not, by itself, establish that any particular organisation failed to meet its obligations. The circumstances of each recruitment decision will need to be assessed against the information available at the time.

Another central question is whether al-Hammami acted independently or received support from a terrorist organisation. Security officials have been keen to determine whether the alleged plan was connected to groups such as al-Qaida or Islamic State. Evidence of wider organisational involvement could have implications beyond the suspect himself, potentially prompting investigations into associates, recruitment networks or other planned operations.

UAE authorities have said that the suspect admitted acting alone and without the involvement of other individuals. Al-Shamsi nevertheless stressed that investigators were continuing to verify the claim. Establishing whether the suspect had external contacts, received assistance or was influenced by an organised network remains an important part of the inquiry.

Investigators have also reportedly found that al-Hammami travelled on two earlier flights to Tel Aviv. According to information reported by the Emirati state news agency, the journeys were used to familiarise himself with the route and the airport. If confirmed by the investigation, the alleged reconnaissance could provide insight into how the plan developed and whether the suspect used his professional responsibilities to gather information.

The passengers aboard the aircraft were overwhelmingly Israeli, adding to the potential diplomatic and security implications of the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the bravery of the passengers and the pilot following the thwarted attack. Their actions have drawn attention to the importance of the crew’s response and the role passengers may play when an emergency develops, although such situations remain exceptionally dangerous and depend on rapidly changing circumstances.

The safe landing in Saudi Arabia also highlighted the importance of coordination between aviation personnel and regional authorities when an aircraft faces a serious security emergency. The incident involved a flight operating between the UAE and Israel, a suspect holding Omani nationality, and investigations extending into Australia and New Zealand. Such circumstances require authorities to exchange information while respecting the legal processes of the countries involved.

The case is likely to renew discussions about background checks, professional monitoring and the sharing of security intelligence across international aviation networks. Airlines must assess applicants’ qualifications and employment records, while relevant authorities have responsibilities relating to licensing, training and potential security threats. The challenge is to identify credible risks without treating unverified suspicions as established facts or compromising the rights of individuals under investigation.

For now, the UAE investigation remains central to determining the precise sequence of events, the suspect’s intentions and whether the alleged plan involved anyone else. Authorities in Australia and New Zealand are examining different aspects of his background, while questions remain about how his professional career progressed across multiple airlines and countries.

The intervention of the injured pilot, the passengers and the off-duty relief pilot appears to have prevented a potentially devastating outcome. Their actions brought the aircraft to safety and allowed investigators to pursue the case without the additional loss of life that prosecutors say the suspect intended to cause. The final findings will be important not only for the criminal proceedings but also for understanding whether existing international aviation security systems need further safeguards to prevent similar threats in the future.