Flydubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Tried to Crash Plane into Tel Aviv Skyscraper

Investigators are probing whether the co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to crash the aircraft into the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, raising concerns of a 9/11-style attack. Hamam Al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, allegedly attacked the captain and tried to take control of the Boeing 737 MAX, with reports suggesting he aimed to steer the plane into the high-rise buildings.

The incident, now classified as an attempted terrorist attack by UAE authorities, occurred on September 30 during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 170 passengers on board. The captain was seriously injured, but passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, allowing other pilots to land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The investigation, involving Mossad, Saudi, Omani, and American intelligence services, is exploring whether Al-Hammami acted alone or had accomplices. He was previously deemed a security risk by Oman Air in 2024 due to extremist material found in his possession and was later rejected by Royal Air Maroc in 2025. Questions remain about how he was subsequently hired by Flydubai.

Emirati authorities have confirmed the attack but have not publicly verified the specific target. The probe seeks to determine the co-pilot's motives, the timing of his plan, and how his past security concerns went unnoticed during recruitment.