Alleged Flydubai hijacker said 9/11 attacks inspired him to become a pilot, initial investigations show

The alleged Flydubai hijacker planned to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and was inspired by the September 11 attacks, according to a preliminary investigation.

Hamam al-Hammami, the suspect in the hijacking attempt and co-pilot aboard last week’s flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, wanted to carry out an attack similar to that of September 11, 2001, which led him to pursue a career in aviation, according to a statement from UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, shared by Emirati state media.

“The idea of ​​carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly anchored in his mind, which, according to his confession, was linked to his decision to pursue a career in aviation,” Friday’s statement said. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 attacks 25 years ago, after four commercial planes were hijacked and crashed at three sites in the United States.

The co-pilot wanted to carry out “a premeditated terrorist plot, aimed at taking control of the plane and using it to commit a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport”, with the aim of causing “the greatest number of victims possible”, the press release added.

The initial investigation also revealed that the September 30 flight was not al-Hammami’s first to Tel Aviv. He had already participated in two flights to Ben Gurion Airport to familiarize himself with the route and the airport in preparation for the attack, preliminary findings revealed.

An Israeli official and an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN earlier that the suspected hijacker likely wanted to target the airport, the country’s main international gateway.

Al-Hammami, 29, was arrested by the actions of the captain and several passengers who restrained him and regained control of the plane.

Al-Hammami became prone to extremism and terrorism in 2017 while studying in Australia, the investigation heard. He was influenced by the extremist publications he read and online content he followed that glorified terrorist groups and suicide bombings.

The statement said he “prepared himself psychologically and physically to carry out his plot by increasing his exposure to material inciting terrorism and training in boxing under the guidance of a private trainer.”

He previously worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024 before joining Royal Air Maroc in 2025, working with the Moroccan airline for several months before joining Flydubai in January 2026, the Emirati statement said.

A source earlier told CNN that the suspect was removed from flight training at Oman Air over concerns about his radical views and was given another role within the Omani airline.

In a statement to the Associated Press last week, Air Maroc said the suspect completed three months of training with the airline in 2025 as part of the pre-employment process, but was not selected.

The UAE’s investigations also focused on Flydubai’s recruitment procedures for the suspect. Al-Hammami met professional and safety requirements to be employed, the investigation found, including possessing a pilot’s license, a certificate of good conduct and passing necessary exams.

“No indication emerged during these proceedings revealing his extremist leanings or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot,” Attorney General Al Shamsi said, according to state media.

Al-Hammami told authorities he acted alone, although investigations into his complaint were ongoing, the attorney general said.

Authorities are still investigating the evidence, the possible involvement of others and reviewing recordings and technical reports, according to Emirati state media.

This is a developing story and will be updated.