FlyDubai Copilot Mapped Out Ben Gurion Airport Crash, Reports Say

New details from ongoing interrogations in the United Arab Emirates suggest the alleged plot had been in preparation for months and was nearly carried out during an earlier flight to Israel

The Omani co-pilot accused in the FlyDubai incident had allegedly intended to carry out a devastating attack at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport only after securing clearance to land, according to new details emerging from ongoing interrogations in the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that investigators believe Hamam al-Hammami spent months preparing for the operation while continuing to work on regular FlyDubai routes into Israel. The latest findings indicate that the suspected attack was not conceived in the days leading up to the incident but had been under consideration for a prolonged period.

Authorities examining the case found that al-Hammami had landed at Ben Gurion Airport several times as part of his duties with the UAE-based carrier. His most recent visits took place in June and July, periods that investigators now view as significant to the alleged planning process.

Information attributed to details from the interrogation suggests that during a June stopover at the airport, al-Hammami gathered intelligence related to the location where he intended to crash the aircraft. Investigators believe that visit was used to familiarize himself with the target area and refine elements of the plan.

The same reporting indicates that an earlier attempt had been scheduled for July. That operation was ultimately abandoned at the last moment because one of the crew members on the flight was a personal friend of the co-pilot.

The revelations add to an investigation that continues in the United Arab Emirates, where authorities are questioning al-Hammami and examining the extent of the alleged planning behind the suspected attack plot.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)