According to a report from ynet, Israeli authorities are investigating whether the Omani co-pilot who attempted to hijack Flydubai flight FZ1073 planned a 9/11-style attack. The report follows earlier reporting by CBS News citing an unnamed Israeli security source saying authorities were examining that possibility.
Israeli authorities are investigating whether the Omani co-pilot who attempted to hijack Flydubai flight FZ1073 had planned a 9/11-style crash, according to a Saturday evening report from ynet. The report follows a CBS News story that cited an unnamed Israeli security source saying authorities were probing that possibility. The Zioneer reported the CBS account at 22:47 Saturday.
The investigation into the attempted attack has unfolded over the course of Saturday. At 12:13 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported—citing N12 journalist Danny Fisher—that Israeli security officials were checking whether the pilot had visited Israel days before the incident. By 13:27, a source identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. At 12:53, a source involved in the investigation told The Zioneer that al-Hammami had made multiple flights to Israel, including days before the attack. At 17:51, al-Hammami reportedly confessed during interrogations, and international media later confirmed that the investigation examined a potential crash-to-Israel plot, as The Zioneer reported at 19:22.
The attacker remains in Saudi custody, as The Zioneer reported on October 1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on October 2 that al-Hammami underwent Islamist radicalization, and added that Israel expects to be integrated into the investigation once the suspect is transferred to UAE custody. CBS News later reported Saturday that Flydubai hired al-Hammami without conducting a background check with Omani authorities, despite Omani red flags over extremist website visits.
Israeli security officials have described the 9/11-style theory as one of several lines of inquiry. It remains unclear whether al-Hammami acted alone or was directed by a foreign entity.
10 developments
- ConfirmedOmani co-pilot planned to crash plane into Ben Gurion Airport terminal, interrogation report says
- ConfirmedFlydubai co-pilot reportedly targeted Tel Aviv-bound flights months before attack, sought airlines flying to Israel
- DevelopingShin Bet representatives fly to UAE to participate in interrogation of Omani pilot
- StrongIsraeli assessment now sees Flydubai pilot as lone actor, i24 reports
Source and signal
- Open-source intake