Investigators say flydubai co-pilot planned fatal attack on Tel Aviv flight

Investigators say a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain of a flight to Tel Aviv planned to take control of the aircraft and deliberately crash it, according to reports cited by India Today and Israeli media. The co-pilot, identified as 29-year-old Omani national Hammam al-Hammani, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar during the flight. Investigators said he intended to kill the captain, secure control of the aircraft and continue the journey before carrying out the crash.

According to an account reported by Italy’s Corriere della Sera, al-Hammani planned to shut down the engines and strike a skyscraper in Tel Aviv. Israeli media reported a different version of his alleged plan, saying he intended to obtain landing clearance and then crash the plane into a building or another aircraft near Ben Gurion Airport. The reports said al-Hammani told investigators he had wanted to continue Flight 1073 normally after disposing of the captain.

Israeli investigators reportedly concluded that he acted alone. The claims have not been independently verified in the supplied material. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Al-Hammani is under arrest and is being questioned in the United Arab Emirates, according to the reports. The material does not provide details of charges against him or say whether investigators have announced further findings. The alleged plan has been compared in the reports to the September 11 attacks because it involved an attempt to use a passenger aircraft as a weapon.

The supplied reports do not include a response from flydubai or further information about the condition of those involved.