9/11 attacks inspired Flydubai hijacker to become a pilot: UAE probe

Flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned Israel airport attack after years of radicalisation The co-pilot and alleged hijacker of a flydubai flight and crash it into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport was inspired by the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US, according to preliminary findings released by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Hamam al-Hammami, 29, who was serving as the co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, allegedly planned to take control of the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport.According to a statement by UAE attorney general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, shared by Emirati state media, al-Hammami wanted to carry out an attack similar to the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in the US 25 years ago. Four commercial planes were hijacked during those attacks and crashed at three locations.“The idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his mind, which, according to his confessions, was connected to his decision to pursue a career in aviation,” Friday’s statement said.The co-pilot allegedly planned “a premeditated plot with a terroris...