Israel-Bound Flydubai Flight
Alleged Attempted Hijacker Said 9/11 Inspired Him to Become Pilot
Published
The alleged attempted hijacker who authorities say planned to crash a plane into an airport in Israel was apparently inspired to become a pilot because of 9/11.
The United Arab Emirates’ Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi released a statement about Hamam al-Hammami — the man who authorities say stabbed his copilot and tried to take control of a plane last month — claiming al-Hammami was spurred to pursue a flight career to emulate the 9/11 hijackers.
The statement explains, “The idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his mind, which, according to his confessions, was connected to his decision to pursue a career in aviation.”
The UAE attorney general also alleges the pilot wanted to carry out a “premeditated plot with a terrorist objective, aimed at taking control of the aircraft and using it to carry out a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport,” to cause “the greatest possible number of casualties.”
The investigation also revealed this wasn’t al-Hammami’s first flight into Tel Aviv … having previously flown in twice before to familiarize himself with that route.
We shared video of the bloody scene … after al-Hammami allegedly stabbed his copilot.
Authorities say he attempted to take control of the plane, but passengers were able to rush and subdue him … and two off-duty pilots on board were able to safely land the plane.
