Flydubai cockpit attack: Was Ben Gurion target? What Trump, Vance said on Iran link

The Flydubai cockpit attack has raised questions over whether Ben Gurion Airport was the intended target. Investigators have reportedly said that co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned the attack. US President Donald Trump has blamed Iran, while Vice President JD Vance said there is no conclusive link.

The 30 September cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has raised further questions over the incident after investigators are reportedly examining whether the Omani co-pilot deliberately sought employment with the airline operating flights to Israel as part of a possible plan to target Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Reuters reported that interrogation of Hamam al-Hammami indicated that he had planned to crash Flydubai flight FZ1073 into Ben Gurion Airport.

Investigators cited in the report also found that he had allegedly considered crashing another aircraft into Tel Aviv earlier this year, but eventually abandoned the plan.

The revelations have raised fresh questions about how al-Hammami was able to secure a job as a commercial airline pilot and whether his alleged plans were known or detected during the recruitment and vetting process.

Experts cited by The Guardian said evidence of prior planning could suggest that al-Hammami may have specifically sought employment with an airline flying to Israel.

Donald Trump believes Iran behind attack

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he personally believes Iran was responsible for the 30 September Flydubai incident, according to AP.

Asked whether he believed Iran was behind the attack, Trump replied: “I do. I personally do.”

Trump’s remarks came even as investigators have not publicly established a conclusive link between Iran and the incident.

JD Vance takes a cautious line on Iran link

US Vice President JD Vance struck a more cautious tone when asked about possible Iranian involvement.

Vance said there was “nothing conclusive” linking Iran to the incident and said he would defer to CIA Director John Ratcliffe and US intelligence officials, according to AP.

“That's something that I defer to John Ratcliffe and some of the intelligence folks on,” Vance told reporters while travelling to Alaska. “I don't want to get ahead of any announcements there, but it's certainly something that we're looking at. But I wouldn't say I've seen anything conclusively just yet.”

UAE probe calls it a suspected terrorist attack

UAE Attorney General and Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said on 3 October that a preliminary investigation indicated that al-Hammami had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack.

“Investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack,” he said, adding that authorities were working to establish the “full circumstances, motives, and any links”.

The investigation is therefore examining not only the attack itself but also the co-pilot’s possible motive and whether he had any outside links.

Co-pilot attacks captain inside cockpit

According to reports, al-Hammami allegedly used an emergency crash axe kept inside the cockpit to attack Indian captain Smit Machchhar.

The attack took place around two hours and 20 minutes after take-off on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

The aircraft was carrying more than 180 passengers, most of them Israeli, along with crew members.

Machchhar was attacked and injured, forcing the aircraft to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.

The incident has since been treated as a suspected “terrorist attack” by authorities in the region.

NBC News, citing US officials briefed on the investigation, reported that investigators believe al-Hammami acted alone rather than as part of a larger organisation.

However, the report stressed that the investigation remains in its early stages.

(With inputs from Reuters, AP)

About the Author

Bhanu Pratap is a journalist who reports and writes on foreign affairs, India’s foreign policy, geopolitics and strategic affairs. He closely follows diplomatic developments in New Delhi and has a keen interest in defence and national security.<br> <br> Bhanu also focuses on in-depth, interview-based reports and regularly speaking with experts and policymakers to bring perspectives and context to major developments around the world.<br> <br> He is also interested in stories with strong humanitarian angles.<br><br> One such report examined the cases of Indian nationals who were allegedly recruited and forced into Russia’s war against Ukraine. While reporting the story, Bhanu spoke to the families of those affected and documented their experiences. The report was later taken into account by the United Nations in its findings on human rights violations linked to the war in Ukraine.<br> <br> For Bhanu, the zeal to produce meaningful and impactful journalism remains at the heart of his work.<br> <br>He has previously worked with Firstpost, NDTV, Newslaundry and Republic.<br><br> Bhanu studied at the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. He initially chose science with plans to pursue engineering, influenced by conventional expectations, but fate had other plans and eventually led him to journalism.<br><br> Beyond the newsroom, Bhanu enjoys exploring culture and history and often spends his days off on heritage walks. He is also passionate about travelling, biking and listening to folk music.<br> <br>For tips, reviews and suggestions, you can reach him at bhanu.pratap@htdigital.in.

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