Alleged Flydubai hijacker likely wanted to target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, sources say

The alleged hijacker of the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv likely wanted to target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international gateway, according to an Israeli official and an Israeli source familiar with the matter.

Hamam al-Hammami, the suspect in the hijacking attempt and co-pilot on board the flight, was stopped by the actions of the captain and several passengers who restrained him and wrested control of the airplane.

The official and the source said Israel is receiving updates from the Emiratis and that investigation was still in its early stages. There are still questions about the suspect’s intentions, they added.

It’s unclear why al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, over Saudi airspace if his goal was to target an airport in Israel. The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation into the attempted hijacking on board Flydubai’s FZ1073 to learn the motives behind the attack and understand how the suspect was able to get through the safeguards of two countries known for their strict security protocols.

Israel’s Channel 12 News first reported that Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport may have been the target of the hijacking.

CNN reported on Sunday that the suspect probably acted alone , and Israel is so far not aware of a link to any terrorist organization that trained, funded, or organized the attack.

The attorney general of the UAE, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said the co-pilot on board the flight had attempted to seize control of the plane by attacking his colleague with a crash ax – a piece of equipment required on most aircraft. The attorney general called the attempted hijacking a “terrorist act.”

据一位以色列官员和一位熟悉此事的以色列消息人士称，劫持迪拜航空从迪拜飞往特拉维夫航班的嫌疑人很可能想要袭击以色列的主要国际门户——本古里安机场。

劫机未遂嫌疑人兼飞机副驾驶哈马姆·哈马米被机长和几名乘客制服，他们控制了飞机并夺回了控制权。

这位官员和消息人士称，以色列方面正在接收来自阿联酋的最新进展，调查仍处于初期阶段。他们补充说，目前仍存在关于嫌疑人意图的疑问。

目前尚不清楚，如果哈马米的目标是以色列的机场，那么他为何要在沙特阿拉伯领空袭击机长斯密特·马赫哈尔。阿联酋正在主导对迪拜航空FZ1073航班劫机未遂事件的调查，以查明袭击动机，并弄清嫌疑人是如何突破这两个以严格安保措施著称的国家的重重防线的。

以色列第 12 频道新闻率先报道称，特拉维夫本古里安机场可能是劫机事件的目标。

CNN周日报道称，嫌疑人很可能是单独行动的，以色列目前尚未发现与任何训练、资助或组织此次袭击的恐怖组织有任何联系。

阿联酋总检察长哈马德·赛义夫·沙姆西表示，机上副驾驶试图用破拆斧（大多数飞机都配备这种设备）袭击其同事，从而夺取飞机控制权。总检察长称此次劫机未遂事件为“恐怖主义行为”。