Flydubai hijacker planned to kill pilot unnoticed, crash into Tel Aviv skyscraper - report

Hammami's plan was to kill the pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, without attracting attention, then fly along the planned route to Tel Aviv before crashing into the city's buildings. 

Hamam al-Hammami, the copilot accused of trying to hijack and crash a flydubai aircraft bound for Israel, planned to deliberately crash into Tel Aviv skyscrapers, Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera reported on Sunday, citing Israeli intelligence.

Hammami's plan was to kill the pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, without attracting attention, then fly along the planned route to Tel Aviv before crashing into the city's buildings.

Israeli authorities are working on the assumption that Hammami was a "lone wolf" actor who attempted to crash the plane on his own initiative, rather than acting on the orders of any terror group, a source told The Jerusalem Post.

The operation was planned to be so quick that fighter jets couldn't intervene, the Italian outlet stated.

Instead, after Hammami attacked Machchhar with an emergency crash axe, almost severing his arm, and attempted to crash the plane by first manipulating the control stick and then cutting both engines, Machchhar helped passengers secure Hamami and the aircraft, according to the report.

Hamami previously fired from Oman Air for extremist views

Hammami had previously worked for Oman Air before he was fired for his views, described as too close to Islamic extremism, before being hired by flydubai eight months ago, according to Corriere Della Sera.

Australian authorities are currently conducting an investigation into whether or not Hammami had been radicalized while in the country.

"The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, can confirm it is investigating the man's links to Australia. An update will be provided at an appropriate time," an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesperson said, referring to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that Hammami had allegedly visited radical mosques and extremist websites while in Australia, citing two people familiar with the investigation.

Australian intelligence services held a file on the individual, according to the FT.