According to a report by Amit Segal, the Omani co-pilot accused in the mid-air attack on a Tel Aviv-bound flight told interrogators he intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport's terminal building during final approach, when interception would be impossible. The plot was foiled when the injured Indian captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the assailant.
New details have emerged from the interrogation of the Omani co-pilot involved in the September 30 mid-air attack on a Tel Aviv-bound flight. According to a report by Amit Segal, the suspect admitted he planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport's terminal building, timing the attack so that interception would be impossible. He told investigators he attacked the captain only after the flight entered Jordanian airspace, close to Israel, to avoid early detection. The plot was thwarted when the Indian captain, despite being injured, opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers to subdue the assailant.
The Zioneer previously reported that the suspect, identified as a Flydubai co-pilot, allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft before it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli passengers on board subdued the attacker. The investigation has focused on the suspect's radicalization and months-long planning. The latest interrogation details reinforce the assessment that the attack was intended to cause mass casualties at Israel's main international airport.
4 developments
- ConfirmedFlydubai co-pilot reportedly targeted Tel Aviv-bound flights months before attack, sought airlines flying to Israel
- StrongFlydubai passengers tell New York Post: crew asked us to release terrorist co-pilot
- StrongThe Zioneer publishes photo of Hammami, accused of attempting to crash a plane into Israel
- DevelopingBen-Gvir: Israel Should Seek Extradition of Flydubai Co-Pilot
Source and signal
- Open-source intake