UAE reveals details of attempted terrorist attack on Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv

This was announced by UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi.

According to the prosecution, the 29-year-old Omani citizen began implementing his plan on September 30 during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Investigators established that he suddenly attacked the aircraft captain in the cockpit with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft.

According to the investigation, the suspect's goal was to steer the plane into the passenger terminal of Ben Gurion Airport and cause as many casualties as possible.

The prosecution stated that the suspect used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to study the flight route and the airport. During the third flight, he began executing his plan.

The investigation also claims that the man was inspired by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and his decision to build a career in aviation, according to his own testimony, was connected with the intention to carry out a similar attack in the future.

During the attack, the captain resisted and tried to call for help. Another pilot, who was on board and scheduled to operate the return flight, noticed unusual opening of the cockpit door and went inside.

Together with a flight attendant and several passengers, he helped subdue the attacker and save the wounded captain.

After that, the other pilots regained control of the aircraft, changed route and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

According to the prosecution, the suspect gave detailed testimony in the presence of a lawyer and stated that he acted alone. The investigation continues to check for possible accomplices or other connections.

Recall that on the morning of Wednesday, September 30, a Boeing 737 passenger airliner of FlyDubai, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, changed course and issued two emergency signals during the flight. As it turned out, during the flight, the co-pilot (an Omani citizen) stabbed the captain (a UAE citizen), presumably intending to commit suicide and cause a plane crash.

The media also reported that a Ukrainian and a Russian pilot who were on board helped land the plane after the attack on the captain.

Already in the evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed new details of the incident on board FlyDubai and commended the passengers and crew members who helped save the plane.

Subsequently, Flydubai announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Israel while the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

As is known, al-Hammami was previously banned from flying in Oman due to «suspicions of extremist views». After that, he was hired by FlyDubai.