9/11 attacks inspired flydubai hijacker to become a pilot: UAE probe

The alleged plot involved taking control of a commercial aircraft and deliberately crashing it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport. It matters because the claimed objective was a terrorist suicide attack against civilians, not simply diverting or stealing an aircraft.

The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Investigators say co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned the attack and had made two earlier trips to Ben Gurion to familiarise himself with the route and airport. The captain and several passengers restrained him and regained control.

The UAE’s preliminary findings say al-Hammami was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks. He allegedly wanted the greatest possible number of casualties. Authorities are still checking his claim that he acted alone, while the case has brought Flydubai’s recruitment procedures under scrutiny.

An aircraft hijacking is an unlawful attempt to take control of an aircraft from its authorised crew. It threatens passengers, crew members, and people on the ground because the aircraft can be diverted, used as a weapon, or forced into a dangerous situation.

Control might be challenged through violence, threats, deception, or by trying to incapacitate or overpower crew members. In this case, the UAE investigation alleges that the co-pilot planned to take control from inside the cockpit. The captain and several passengers stopped the attempt by restraining him and regaining control of the plane.

Modern aviation safety uses several protective layers, including trained flight crews, secure cockpit procedures, passenger awareness, airline screening, and law enforcement. The article does not describe the precise actions planned by al-Hammami. It does show that cooperation between the captain and passengers ended the alleged attempt before the aircraft reached its alleged target.

The September 11, 2001 attacks were a large-scale terrorist operation involving the hijacking of four commercial aircraft. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States, making them one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history.

The four planes were used in attacks at three locations. The source does not name those locations in detail, but it states that the aircraft were hijacked and crashed at three sites. The UAE says the alleged flydubai plot was inspired by this earlier attack pattern.

That connection matters because it links the alleged plan to the use of a passenger aircraft as a weapon. The UAE attorney general’s preliminary statement says al-Hammami wanted to carry out a similar operation and target Ben Gurion Airport’s passenger terminal. The alleged aim was to cause the greatest possible number of casualties.

The alleged hijacking was stopped inside the aircraft before the plane could be used against Ben Gurion Airport. The captain and several passengers intervened, restrained Hamam al-Hammami, and regained control of the flight.

The article gives no further detail about the timing, techniques, or exact positions involved. It does establish the key mechanism: people aboard the aircraft acted together to prevent the co-pilot from carrying out the alleged plan. The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.

This intervention prevented the alleged attack from reaching its stated target, the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. The UAE investigation is preliminary, and authorities are still checking al-Hammami’s claim that he acted alone. The case also led investigators to examine his employment history and the procedures Flydubai used when hiring him.

The case could lead airlines and regulators to review how pilots are recruited, assessed, and monitored. It matters because the UAE investigation says al-Hammami met Flydubai’s professional and security requirements, yet investigators allege he was planning a terrorist attack.

Flydubai found that he held a pilot’s licence, had a certificate of good conduct, and passed required examinations. The investigation found no indications during those procedures of extremist inclinations or a terrorist plot. A source also said Oman Air had removed him from flight training over concerns about radical views and assigned him another role.

Those facts could encourage closer review of employment history, psychological screening, online conduct, and information sharing between airlines. They do not establish that any new policy will follow. Authorities are still investigating, including whether al-Hammami acted alone, while Flydubai’s recruitment procedures remain under scrutiny.

An attacker might study a route and airport to become familiar with the journey and intended target. In this case, the UAE investigation says the alleged preparation involved two earlier flights to Ben Gurion Airport. The stated purpose was to familiarise al-Hammami with the route and airport before the alleged attack.

That preparation could reduce uncertainty about the travel path and the destination’s layout or operations. The article does not provide specific details about what he observed or how he planned to use that knowledge. It does identify Ben Gurion’s passenger terminal as the alleged target.

The reported reconnaissance is important because investigators view the incident as premeditated, rather than spontaneous. Al-Hammami allegedly chose a career in aviation while developing the idea of using an aircraft in a September 11-style attack. Authorities are continuing to examine his actions, background, and whether anyone else was involved.

Pilot licensing, airline training, background checks, and security vetting address different risks. Licensing confirms that a person meets professional standards. Airline training develops the skills needed for a specific operation. Background checks examine identity and history, while security vetting looks for information relevant to safety and trust.

The article says al-Hammami held a pilot’s licence, had a certificate of good conduct, and passed required examinations before joining Flydubai. Investigators found that he met the professional and security requirements. They also found no indications during those procedures of extremist views or a terrorist plan.

Together, these safeguards create multiple checks, but the case shows that formal requirements may not reveal every concern. A source said Oman Air had removed him from flight training because of concerns about radical views. The UAE is still investigating, and Flydubai’s recruitment procedures are under scrutiny.