Al Qaeda Propaganda Links Flydubai Hijacking to 9/11, Urges Copycat Attacks

Key points

• Al-Bayan, a weekly publication launched in July by pro-Al Qaeda supporters, published an article on October 2 urging attacks on planes carrying Americans and Israelis.
• The article explicitly referenced the September 30 Flydubai incident and the September 11, 2001 attacks, stating that 'the war isn’t over yet.'
• Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe, causing the Boeing 737 to lose altitude rapidly.
• Passengers and crew restrained al-Hammami, and two off-duty pilots landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
• The UAE Attorney General confirmed the incident is being investigated as a terrorist act, while Israeli officials allege al-Hammami underwent Islamist radicalization.

Background

This development follows the September 30 attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which carried over 170 mostly Israeli passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including recent escalations between Iran and the US in the Middle East. Al Qaeda, which orchestrated the 2001 September 11 attacks, has historically targeted aviation, with key leaders like Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri having been killed in the past decade. The current incident mirrors the 2001 attacks in its use of cockpit weapons and the targeting of Western and Israeli citizens, though no direct operational link has been confirmed.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post emphasizes the ideological connection, noting that al-Hammami’s social media accounts featured images of Ayman al-Zawahiri and referenced Humam al-Balawi, a former Al Qaeda operative. Terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann, cited by the Post, suggests this indicates al-Hammami may not be an ISIS supporter but rather aligned with Al Qaeda. Business Today and News18 focus on the propaganda aspect, highlighting the explicit call for copycat attacks in the al-Bayan newsletter. While all sources agree on the violent nature of the incident and the UAE’s classification of it as a terrorist act, they differ on the certainty of the link: the Post and Business Today highlight the Al Qaeda imagery, while News18 notes that Israeli officials believe al-Hammami likely acted alone, though the investigation remains ongoing. The TSA has stated it is monitoring the situation but has not confirmed any direct Al Qaeda involvement.

Why it matters

The explicit call for copycat attacks by a pro-Al Qaeda publication signals a potential resurgence of aviation-focused terrorism targeting Western and Israeli citizens. The incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in cockpit security and the potential for lone actors with extremist ideologies to exploit aviation infrastructure. It also highlights the continued relevance of Al Qaeda’s propaganda networks, even after the deaths of its top leaders, and raises questions about the radicalization pathways of professional pilots in the region.

What to watch

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are jointly investigating the motive and potential external links of Hamam al-Hammami. Israeli officials are participating in the probe, and the TSA is monitoring the situation for potential copycat threats. The investigation will determine whether al-Hammami acted alone or under direction from Al Qaeda, which could influence future aviation security protocols and counter-terrorism strategies in the region.