Al-Qaeda calls for new attacks on passenger planes

As the New York Post reports, the call appeared in the weekly al-Bayan publication, which supports Al-Qaeda. The Arabic-language article draws a direct parallel between the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the failed hijacking attempt of flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026. The authors of the publication used photographs of the attack on the Twin Towers alongside images of the recent incident.

"The war is not over yet – planes carrying Zionists, Americans and all other infidels who are fighting against Islam are still flying in the sky and can become targets, as happened on September 11 and 30," the text states. It further adds that "the day will come when the evil empire of America will cease to exist."

The 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, Humam al-Hamami, was arrested after attacking the captain with an axe and attempting to take control of the Dubai — Tel Aviv flight. The crew and passengers managed to neutralize the attacker. The airliner was diverted to Tabuk (Saudi Arabia), where it successfully landed thanks to two other Flydubai pilots who were on board.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi officially confirmed that the investigation classifies the detainee's actions as an attempted terrorist act.

Terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann notes that new details indicate al-Hamami's connection to Al-Qaeda specifically, rather than to ISIS.

Nine hours after the pilot's arrest, while he was already in custody, a series of videos appeared on his LinkedIn and Instagram pages. Who exactly published the materials is unknown, but the accounts were later deleted.

The videos contained footage from the cockpit with approaching Israeli planes, as well as an image of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, killed in 2022. Additionally, the publications referenced Humam al-Balawi — a doctor and Jordanian intelligence agent who turned out to be an Al-Qaeda sympathizer and carried out a large-scale suicide bombing against CIA employees. According to Kohlmann, al-Hamami also had a professional background in aviation, making the comparison with al-Balawi particularly telling.

Israel's Channel 12, citing investigative sources, reported that al-Hamami was radicalized specifically within the ideology of Al-Qaeda. It was previously reported that while working at Oman Air, extremist materials were found on the pilot's phone, which led to restrictions on his flights. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated that it is coordinating with law enforcement and international partners, but direct evidence that al-Hamami acted directly under the orders of a terrorist group has not yet been published. UAE special services continue to investigate whether the attacker had accomplices and external guidance.

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