Flydubai co-pilot studied airlines before plotting sabotage of Israel-bound flight

Hamam al-Hammami, the co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai aircraft heading to Israel, disclosed that he surveyed airlines serving Tel Aviv and deliberately chose Flydubai for his scheme. He asserted that the operation was designed before his employment and that his goal was to bring the plane down over the city’s high-rise skyline after assaulting the captain, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency axe, nearly severing his arm.

Hammami postponed the attack until the end of September due to a crisis of conscience triggered by a crew member’s proximity. Israeli investigators consider him a "lone wolf" acting independently of any extremist organization. The plot was timed to outpace fighter-jet interception, and after the captain’s assault, passengers helped restrain Hammami and secure the aircraft.