A suspect in the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai aircraft has admitted that he chose to become a pilot after being inspired by the September 11 attacks. The claim was made by Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, the Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates, according to CNN, as reported by infohub.kz.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the September 11 attacks 25 years ago, after four commercial planes were hijacked and crashed in the United States.

"The idea of carrying out a similar attack using an aircraft became firmly entrenched in his mind, which, by his own admission, was linked to his decision to pursue a career in aviation," the UAE Attorney General's statement said.

According to Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, the co-pilot of the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight intended to carry out a "premeditated plan aimed at seizing control of the aircraft and using it to commit a terrorist attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport," in order to cause "as many casualties as possible."

A preliminary investigation also established that the flight to Tel Aviv was not his first. According to preliminary data, he had previously flown to Ben Gurion Airport twice to familiarize himself with the route and the airfield as part of preparations for the attack.

The emergency on board the Flydubai aircraft occurred on September 30. Media reports said a Boeing 737 passenger plane sent a distress signal while turning over Saudi Arabia. It transmitted code 7500, indicating hijacking or unlawful interference. Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the airliner.

It later emerged that the aircraft had landed in Saudi Arabia. Reports said a fight broke out on board between the pilots on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.

Soon afterward, the first photos and videos from inside the plane appeared. It was later learned that the injured pilot was an Indian citizen, Smit Machchhar, who described details of the incident.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called what happened on board an attempted terrorist attack. The name and nationality of the pilot suspected of attempting to carry out the attack also became known. The UAE Prosecutor General's Office likewise recognized the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.

In addition, Israel said the Flydubai pilot wanted to crash the plane at Tel Aviv airport.