Israel orders security review of incoming flights after co-pilot attack
Washington Post
Washington Post
Original Source
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a comprehensive review of security measures for all foreign civilian flights to Israel following an attack by a co-pilot on an Emirates flight bound for Tel Aviv. The co-pilot attempted to crash the aircraft carrying 180 passengers, but the crew regained control and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Israel orders security review of incoming flights after co-pilot attack - The Washington Post
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Israel orders security review of incoming flights after co-pilot attack
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a review of “all aspects” of security of foreign civil flights to Israel.
October 4, 2026 at 5:42 p.m. EDTToday at 5:42 p.m. EDT
3 min
*Two U.S. aerial refueling aircraft sit parked on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the day of the attack on a FlyDubai plane. (Erik Marmor/Getty Images)*
By Sammy Westfall
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a thorough review of “all aspects” of security of foreign civil flights to Israel, in the wake of the attack on a flight bound for Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Netanyahu instructed the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, to appoint an examiner to conduct the review, Netanyahu’s office said Sunday on X.
A co-pilot of a flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked his fellow pilot with a crash ax and put the plane and its roughly 180 passengers into a sharp descent. The captain managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to take control of the plane and make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, passengers said.
The suspected attacker on FlyDubai Flight 1073 has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, according to Yossi Avraham Shelley, Israel’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu said last week that the co-pilot was “suicidal” and “underwent Islamic radical indoctrination.”
Netanyahu said Friday that Israel was investigating “whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price.”
A person familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that al-Hammami had specifically been blocked from flying planes for Oman Air because of his radical views. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said that the co-pilot had been placed in a desk job because of these views and that he had then resigned.
The person did not give details about those views, and it was not immediately clear whether FlyDubai or the Emirati government, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment, were aware of this.
Officials from Israel’s Transportation Ministry on Saturday appeared to place the blame on FlyDubai and security in the UAE, telling reporters in a call that they should have conducted background checks on the pilot, and that a pilot from Oman — which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel — should not have been allowed to fly a plane to Tel Aviv.
On Tuesday, before the attack, Netanyahu issued a video warning from the Tel Nof air base that there might be an attack against Israel ahead of elections in late October.
“We have indications that, ahead of the elections, our enemies will try to attack us. … I send you this message: Do not mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, at any time,” he said in the video statement.
---
What readers are saying
The comments express criticism of Netanyahu's leadership and the Israeli government's handling of a security incident, suggesting it was a result of incompetence and failed intelligence. Some commenters speculate on the motivations behind the incident, while others express... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
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WorldMiddle EastAfricaAmericasAsiaEurope
WorldMiddle EastAfricaAmericasAsiaEurope
Israel orders security review of incoming flights after co-pilot attack
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a review of “all aspects” of security of foreign civil flights to Israel.
October 4, 2026 at 5:42 p.m. EDTToday at 5:42 p.m. EDT
3 min
*Two U.S. aerial refueling aircraft sit parked on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the day of the attack on a FlyDubai plane. (Erik Marmor/Getty Images)*
By Sammy Westfall
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a thorough review of “all aspects” of security of foreign civil flights to Israel, in the wake of the attack on a flight bound for Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Netanyahu instructed the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, to appoint an examiner to conduct the review, Netanyahu’s office said Sunday on X.
A co-pilot of a flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked his fellow pilot with a crash ax and put the plane and its roughly 180 passengers into a sharp descent. The captain managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to take control of the plane and make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, passengers said.
The suspected attacker on FlyDubai Flight 1073 has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, according to Yossi Avraham Shelley, Israel’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu said last week that the co-pilot was “suicidal” and “underwent Islamic radical indoctrination.”
Netanyahu said Friday that Israel was investigating “whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price.”
A person familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that al-Hammami had specifically been blocked from flying planes for Oman Air because of his radical views. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said that the co-pilot had been placed in a desk job because of these views and that he had then resigned.
The person did not give details about those views, and it was not immediately clear whether FlyDubai or the Emirati government, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment, were aware of this.
Officials from Israel’s Transportation Ministry on Saturday appeared to place the blame on FlyDubai and security in the UAE, telling reporters in a call that they should have conducted background checks on the pilot, and that a pilot from Oman — which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel — should not have been allowed to fly a plane to Tel Aviv.
On Tuesday, before the attack, Netanyahu issued a video warning from the Tel Nof air base that there might be an attack against Israel ahead of elections in late October.
“We have indications that, ahead of the elections, our enemies will try to attack us. … I send you this message: Do not mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, at any time,” he said in the video statement.
---
What readers are saying
The comments express criticism of Netanyahu's leadership and the Israeli government's handling of a security incident, suggesting it was a result of incompetence and failed intelligence. Some commenters speculate on the motivations behind the incident, while others express... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
* Violet Jira Christa Pike still in critical condition after botched execution, lawyer says Earlier today
* Naftali Bendavid Trump’s opponents are planning efforts to reverse his changes to presidency Earlier today
* Patrick Marley An election chief lost. Then he padlocked the ballots and called the FBI. Earlier today
* Lucas Trevor SNL takes aim at Trump’s Republican allies with cold open Earlier today
* Lena H. Sun Why you should think about getting your flu shot right now Earlier today
* Hannah Knowles and Paul Duggan The toxic family strife before a New York Times engineer was gunned down Earlier today
NewsletterAs news breaks
World News Alerts
Breaking news email alerts for major happenings around the world.
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