- Bengal bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar voting on Tuesday under heavy security cover
- SIR row: Karnataka HM Kharge warns of action over misuse of Form-7, questions bulk pre-printed submissions
- Global risks likely to weigh on markets even as festive demand offers selective support
- SIR, an Election Commission process to remove dead, false voters: Telangana BJP chief
- Kiran Abbavaram’s ‘Reality’ Also Joins The Christmas Race
- HC rejects pleas for independent probe, FIRs against politicians over Delhi riots
- Punjab govt corruption case: Pratap Bajwa welcomes HC order on CBI probe
- Archer Jyothi Surekha welcomed grandly at Gannavaram
Flydubai Co-Pilot Had Planned Ben Gurion Airport Attack: Israeli Media
In Short
Israeli media reports claim a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned a terror attack targeting Ben Gurion Airport after killing the captain. Investigations are ongoing into the security lapses and the alleged plot, which was reportedly foiled by the pilot's actions.

Flydubai Co-Pilot Had Planned Ben Gurion Airport Attack: Israeli Media
As the investigation into the FlyDubai incident is in progress, more and more questions are being raised over the security lapses that could have resulted in a major catastrophe if the flight had crashed. According to reports, the authorities in the United Arab Emirates had shared a list of passengers and crew ahead of the FlyDubai flight with Israel.
It may be recalled that the officials have already said the Omani co-pilot was barred from flying by his own country because of concerns about his extremist views. According to agency reports, officials on condition of anonymity said Israel hadn't raised red flags on any passenger or member of the crew. The officials said they were not authorized to speak to reporters about the probe.
It is still not known how the attacker escaped security checks and succeeded in carrying a crash axe and tried to take control of the plummeting plane in a “terrorist attack” on Wednesday into the cockpit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later told the head of the National Security Council to appoint an examiner to review “all security aspects regarding foreign civil aviation to Israel.”
Israeli media further said that the co-pilot had planned to deliberately crash the aircraft into a building or another plane at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
Inputs from agency reports claim that the co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami, who is currently under arrest, reportedly told investigators in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that he intended to continue operating flydubai Flight 1073 normally after killing the aircraft's captain, Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and then crash the aircraft into a building or another jet at the airport in an attack resembling the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Quoting sources, Ynet reported that Al-Hammami told investigators that he intended to initiate the plan while the aircraft was over Jordan and approaching Israel. By waiting until the final stage of the flight, he believed that he would prevent anyone from understanding what was happening in time to alert authorities or stop him from carrying out the plan.
The reports further said that Al-Hammami had also told investigators that if he was unable to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport, he planned to target a skyscraper in Tel Aviv or one of the US military bases in Jordan. But Captain Smit Machchhar's courage and valour thwarted his plans: despite being grievously injured, he sent distress signals and opened the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to intervene and neutralise Al-Hamami.
Interestingly, this issue has taken a political colour in Israel ahead of the upcoming elections there; the opposition is highlighting the security failures on the part of Netanyahu and his supporters. Transportation Minister Regev is a member of Netanyahu's Likud party and a staunch supporter.
“This is exactly what system collapse looks like,” Yair Golan, head of the opposition Democrats party, wrote on X. “A transportation minister who completely abandons our skies, and a prime minister who abandons national security.”
SC asks CBI, trial court to ensure examination of victim-witnesses in Manipur sexual violence case
Bengal bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar voting on Tuesday under heavy security cover
Bus rams into U-turning lorry, four injured in Nandyal
Instant Personal Loan Without Salary Slip: Is It Possible? A Complete Guide
Oppn United in Cause, Divided in Agenda; Cong, CJP at Loggerheads
GHMC revises KBR Park flyover plans, mulls for permanent one-way traffic
Flydubai Co-Pilot Had Planned Ben Gurion Airport Attack: Israeli Media
SIR row: Karnataka HM Kharge warns of action over misuse of Form-7, questions bulk pre-printed submissions
SIR row: Removal of ineligible voter names essential for India's security, unity, says CM Yogi
Next phase of GST reforms to support PM Modi's ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision: FM Sitharaman

