Israeli media reported that a Flydubai pilot intended to steer his aircraft into a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The information emerged from the suspect's testimony, according to infohub.kz.
N12 journalist Amit Segal reported on the interrogation of the Flydubai co-pilot, as did Channel 7, citing sources.
The detained Flydubai pilot reportedly told interrogators that he planned to direct the falling plane into a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Segal said the pilot planned to make a normal approach and then, in the final seconds when intercepting the aircraft would no longer be possible, steer it into the terminal. "The plot was thwarted only thanks to the fateful decision of a wounded Indian pilot to open the door at any cost," the journalist wrote.
According to Channel 7 sources, the plan was to continue the flight to Israel in a way that would look like a routine service.
The co-pilot, Hamam Al-Hammami, reportedly said during questioning that he had conceived the attack before he was even hired by Flydubai.
"I searched and checked which company flies to Tel Aviv, and that is why I chose Flydubai. I tried to get hired by every company. I planned this operation before I was accepted," Channel 7 quoted the suspect as saying.
The pilot also reportedly intended to carry out the plan back in July but postponed it at the last moment because of a close relationship with a crew member on that flight.
Emergency aboard the Flydubai plane
On September 30, media reports said a Boeing 737 passenger jet had squawked an emergency code while turning over Saudi Arabia. It transmitted code 7500, which signals a hijacking or unlawful interference. Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft.
It later emerged that the plane had landed in Saudi Arabia. Reports said a fight had broken out between pilots on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.
First photos and video from inside the plane soon appeared. Media also reported that pilots from Ukraine and Russia were traveling as passengers and took over control of the Flydubai aircraft.
It later emerged that the injured pilot was Indian citizen Smit Machchhar, who subsequently told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi details of the incident. Flydubai then suspended flights to and from Israel until the investigation into the incident was completed.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the incident aboard the Flydubai plane an attempted terrorist attack. Iran, meanwhile, claims Israel staged the Flydubai emergency to draw the United States back into conflict.
The name and citizenship of the Flydubai pilot suspected of attempting a terrorist attack also became known. The UAE Prosecutor General's Office likewise recognized the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.