The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai flight told interrogators he planned to hijack the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport as revenge for the war in Gaza, according to The Zioneer.
The Omani co-pilot who attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight told interrogators that he planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport as 'revenge for Gaza,' according to Israeli media reports. The statement, first reported by journalist Amit Segal (N12), provides the first documented motive for the September 30 attempted attack.
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday evening, the co-pilot had previously confessed to planning to crash the plane at Ben Gurion. The initial confession did not include a motive. The latest interrogation details, published Monday evening, reveal that he intended the attack as retaliation for the war in Gaza.
The co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft before Israeli passengers intervened. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the suspect remains in custody. The Zioneer has reported that the co-pilot was previously fired from two airlines for extremist views and that Flydubai hired him without a background check.
Israeli defense officials have characterized the incident as a terrorist attack. It remains unclear whether Israel will seek extradition of the suspect from Saudi Arabia.
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
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