Al Qaeda propaganda outlet urges attacks on US and Israeli airline passengers after FlyDubai incident
Al-Qaeda’s media arm praised the September 30 FlyDubai hijack attempt and called for US and Israeli civilians traveling by air to be targeted.
Al-Qaeda’s media outlet Al-Yaqin released its 11th weekly propaganda issue, praising the September 30 attempt to hijack a FlyDubai aircraft and urging that US and Israeli passengers on any flight be targeted. The alleged hijacker, 29-year-old co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, is under investigation in the United Arab Emirates after a prior dismissal from Oman’s national airline due to extremist suspicions. The flight carried over 170 people, the majority of whom were Israeli citizens.
The Arabic-language article declared that “the war isn’t over yet” and cited the September 11 attacks and the recent incident as examples of viable targets. The newsletter was distributed through Telegram channels linked to Al-Yaqin, and terrorism-monitoring organization Terrogence described it as an al-Qaeda-affiliated magazine that often includes attack summaries and religious propaganda. Investigators are also probing whether the plot was a lone act and searching for potential copycat threats.
Why it matters
The call signals a renewed al-Qaeda threat to civilian air travel, especially targeting US and Israeli passengers.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the al-Qaeda propaganda urging attacks on US and Israeli airline passengers after the Flydubai incident, with similar details and no substantive disagreement.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage highlights the al-Qaeda propaganda outlet’s call for attacks on US and Israeli passengers and notes the ongoing investigation.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage emphasizes the al-Qaeda post as a “vile” call that praises the hijacker and urges targeting of Americans and Zionists.
The left emphasises
- Al-Yaqin released its 11th weekly propaganda issue praising the hijack attempt
- urging that US and Israeli passengers on any flight be targeted
- the flight carried over 170 people, the majority Israeli
The right emphasises
- Al-Qaeda publicly called for Americans on airplanes to be targeted in a vile post
- referenced the 9/11 attacks while praising the Dubai flight hijacker
- calls for United States and Israel citizens to be targeted in airline attacks
How this story developed
- Sep 30 Netanyahu hails Indian pilot who thwarted alleged flydubai sabotage
- Oct 1 A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to land in Saudi Arabia after the Omani co-pilot assaulted the captain in the cockpit.
- Oct 1 The Saudi interior ministry said its initial probe indicates the co-pilot on the Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight assaulted the captain.
- Oct 2 The suspect was transferred to United Arab Emirates authorities.
- Oct 2 President Trump said investigators are working to determine whether Iran is linked to the co‑pilot.
- Oct 2 A UAE official called the mid-air incident on flydubai flight FZ1073 a terrorist act and praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for safely landing the aircraft after a co-pilot attack.
- Oct 2 Modi praised Machchhar for averting disaster.
- Oct 2 Israeli carriers have formally requested clearance to restart Dubai routes.
- Oct 3 Co‑pilot identified as Hamam al Hamami, an Omani national previously barred by Oman over extremist concerns.
- Oct 3 UAE prosecutors have classified the March incident on Flydubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv as a terrorist attack after a co-pilot used an emergency axe against the pilot.
- Oct 3 The weapon used in the attack was identified as a small axe.
- Oct 3 The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
- Oct 3 Specialised investigators are analysing physical and digital evidence to determine the co‑pilot's motives and identify any potential ties to external extremist organisations.
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