Reuters cited two Israeli officials and a source familiar with the UAE investigation as saying that flydubai co-pilot Humam al-Hamami told investigators he planned the attack before he was hired, that he intended to bring the plane down on Ben Gurion airport, and that he intended to hijack an earlier plane but changed his mind (NPR, Dawn, Al-Monitor, L’Orient-Le Jour, Bluewin). The UAE authorities have not announced these details or any formal charges. The Attorney General announced that the incident is an attempted terrorist act and that the investigation is ongoing. Vance said he has seen no conclusive evidence of an Iranian role. It was reported that he most likely acted alone. A Guardian headline said the prosecution stated he had planned a suicide attack, and we found no UAE statement confirming that.
If the account is true, it means that security screening of pilots was weak at the point of hiring, not during the flight, and that the danger is an individual, not state policy. It is an account from an Israeli party with a political interest in the incident.
No announced change to travel procedures. Expect flydubai and the General Civil Aviation Authority to announce a review of screening procedures, and flights to Israel to be delayed.
First view: the Israeli leaks may be accurate because Israel took part in the investigation, according to reports.
The other view: the leaks come from parties with an interest, and what counts is only what the UAE prosecution announces.
We separate clearly what the UAE prosecution has said from what Israeli sources have said. We are waiting for an indictment or a final statement. Until then we do not treat the other details as facts.
Reuters, NPR, Dawn, Al-Monitor, L’Orient-Le Jour, Bluewin, The Guardian (October 5–9, 2026)
Israeli officials: flydubai co-pilot planned the attack before he was hired and intended to crash into Ben Gurion airport; the UAE has not confirmed
What the UAE prosecution has announced remains an assault, an attempt to seize control and a terrorist act. The advance planning and the crash target come from Israeli officials and a source familiar with the investigation, and no formal charges have been announced.
Reuters cited two Israeli officials and a third source familiar with the UAE investigation as saying that flydubai co-pilot Humam al-Hamami told investigators he planned the attack before the company appointed him, and that he applied to flydubai after searching for companies that operate flights to Tel Aviv, according to NPR, Dawn, Al-Monitor and L’Orient-Le Jour. The third source said he intended to bring the plane down on Ben Gurion airport, and that he operated a flight to Tel Aviv this year and intended to hijack a plane and bring it down but changed his mind.
The UAE authorities have not published these details or announced formal charges, and Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi continues to say the investigation is ongoing and describes the incident as an attempted terrorist act. A Guardian headline on October 9 said the UAE prosecution stated he had planned a suicide attack, and we found no UAE statement to that effect. US Vice President JD Vance said he has so far seen no conclusive evidence of an Iranian role. According to the source, he is thought to have acted alone.