Flydubai attacker had planned 9/11-style attack, source tells NBC News

The pilot accused in the Flydubai attack attempt on an Israel-bound flight had been planning a 9/11-style attack, aiming to crash into Israel’s main airport in Tel Aviv, according to an unnamed Middle East official speaking to NBC News. NBC News, citing multiple sources, identified the pilot as Hamman al Hamami, an Omani citizen who was transferred to the United Arab Emirates for questioning after the aircraft was diverted from Saudi Arabia following last week’s midair incident. Emirati authorities said the pilot attacked his fellow pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, with a crash ax and tried to seize control. Data from Flightradar24 showed a plunge of 14,000 feet in 29 seconds. Machchhar described multiple blows, loss of vision, and opening the cockpit door on a second attempt. Investigations are also focusing on missed security signals, with The Wall Street Journal reporting al-Hammami had been banned from flying by Oman for suspected radical views.