--- title: "Flydubai co-pilot investigated for targeting Ben Gurion Airport" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-investigated-for-targeting-ben-gurion-airport" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/flydubai-co-pilot-investigated-for-targeting-ben-gurion-airport" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-investigated-for-targeting-ben-gurion-airport.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/flydubai-co-pilot-investigated-for-targeting-ben-gurion-airport" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-10-06T05:45:55.604Z" source_reported: "2026-10-06T04:26:00.000Z" updated: "2026-10-06T05:45:55.604Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-06T05:37:27.207Z" --- # Flydubai co-pilot investigated for targeting Ben Gurion Airport *Investigators are examining whether the Omani co-pilot deliberately sought employment with Flydubai to target Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for details of the co-pilot's alleged plan. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reports quote or give right of reply to those affected, responsible or opposed, and separate fact from comment. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise more than the body delivers, with some outlets focusing on Vance's caution over Trump's accusation. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Investigators are examining if the Omani co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 deliberately sought employment with the airline to target Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. - Reuters reported that interrogation of co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami indicated he planned to crash the flight into the airport. - UAE authorities have called the incident a suspected terrorist attack. - US President Donald Trump believes Iran was responsible, while Vice President JD Vance stated there was no conclusive evidence linking Iran to the incident. Investigators are examining whether the Omani co-pilot of a Flydubai flight deliberately sought employment with the airline as part of a possible plan to target Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. Reuters reported that interrogation of Hamam al-Hammami indicated he had planned to crash Flydubai flight FZ1073 into the airport. The UAE Attorney General and Prosecutor General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, stated on 3 October that a preliminary investigation indicated al-Hammami had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack. The co-pilot allegedly used an emergency crash axe to attack Indian captain Smit Machchhar during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident forced the aircraft to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. The aircraft was carrying more than 180 passengers. NBC News, citing US officials, reported that investigators believe al-Hammami acted alone. ## Disagreement on Iran's involvement US President Donald Trump stated that he personally believes Iran was responsible for the incident. However, US Vice President JD Vance struck a more cautious tone, saying there was "nothing conclusive" linking Iran to the incident and that he would defer to intelligence officials. Several other outlets reported Vance stating that the US had not yet seen conclusive evidence of Iranian involvement. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre or right-rated reports mentioned that investigators had also found that the co-pilot had allegedly considered crashing another aircraft into Tel Aviv earlier this year but abandoned the plan. Furthermore, none of the left-rated outlets covered this story at all. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 9% (1) - Centre: 27% (3) - Right: 64% (7) 13 of 24 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-06T05:37:27.207Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-06T08:00:17.451Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led on the investigation into the co-pilot's potential motive to target Ben Gurion Airport. Live Mint, which provided a full report, stated that investigators were examining whether the co-pilot deliberately sought employment with Flydubai as part of a possible plan to target the airport. This report also detailed US President Donald Trump's belief that Iran was responsible and Vice President JD Vance's more cautious stance. The Economic Times digest also highlighted Vance's comments on the incident and aviation security. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on Vice President JD Vance's statements regarding the incident and aviation security. News-Pravda.com, India Today, Times of India, and Iefimerida all highlighted Vance's comments that the co-pilot was known to be a "troublemaker" or "problem" and questioned how he was allowed to fly. The Daily Wire reported Vance stating that the Trump administration was looking into US procedures to prevent dangerous individuals from piloting aircraft. Protothema also quoted Vance stating there was no definitive evidence of Iranian involvement yet. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 7 - high: 2 - unknown: 13 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [TUOI TRE ONLINE](https://tuoitre.vn/ong-vance-len-tieng-ve-nghi-van-iran-dung-sau-vu-chuyen-bay-flydubai-100261006110035552.htm) — Mr. Vance Spoke Out About Suspicions that Iran Was Behind the Flydubai Flight Attack. - [Unknown](https://etilaatroz.com/262325/trump-accuses-iran-in-flydubai-crash-and-fairford-security-incident) — Trump Accuses Iran of Involvement in Flydubai Crash and Farford Base Security Incident - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/world/flydubai-cockpit-attack-was-ben-gurion-target-what-trump-vance-said-on-iran-link-11791256191010.html) — Flydubai cockpit attack: Was Ben Gurion target? What Trump, Vance said on Iran link - [sawaleif.com](https://sawaleif.com/%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D9%81-1111852) — We Didn't See Evidence of Iran's Connection to the Flay Dubai Incident. - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/usa/2026/10/05/2643398.html) — ️️ Vance on the Flydubai incident: - [Unknown](https://aajtak.in/world/story/jd-vance-problem-questions-flydubai-copilot-pilot-attack-omani-national-hamam-al-hammami-ntc-amkr-dskc-2662299-2026-10-06) — 'I Already Knew He Was trouble...' JD Vance Questions Flydubai Co-Pilot - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/world/story/knew-flydubai-co-pilot-was-the-problem-jd-vance-says-omani-national-hamam-al-hammami-should-not-have-flown-3010357-2026-10-06) — Knew he was the problem: JD Vance says flydubai co-pilot should not have flown - [Life.ru](https://life.ru/p/vens-dopustil-prichastnost-irana-k-intsidentu-na-aviabaze-ferford) — Vance Admitted Iran's Involvement in the Fairford Airbase Incident. - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/he-shouldnt-have-been-flying-vance-reacts-to-possible-iran-link-in-flydubai-incident/videoshow/134714642.cms) — 'He shouldn't have been flying…': Vance reacts to possible Iran link in flydubai incident - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/he-shouldnt-have-been-flying-vance-reacts-to-possible-iran-link-in-flydubai-incident/videoshow/134714642.cms) — Flydubai: 'He shouldn't have been flying…': Vance reacts to possible Iran link in flydubai incident - The Economic Times Video - [tabnak.ir](https://tabnak.ir/fa/news/1397452/%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AB%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%A8%DB%8C) — Vance's Comments on Iran's Connection to the FlyDubai Incident - [bloomberght.com](https://bloomberght.com/vance-iran-a-karsi-son-derece-temkinliyiz-3790395) — Vance: We Are Extremely Cautious Regarding Iran. - [Reporter.gr](https://reporter.gr/diethnh/diethneis-eidhseis/687455-vans-den-yparxoun-oristika-stoixeia-gia-iraniki-emploki-stin-apopeira-katalipsis-tou-flydubai) — Vance: "There Is No Definitive Evidence" of Iranian Involvement in the Attempted Takeover of Flydubai - [thepressroom.gr](https://thepressroom.gr/diethni/tzei-nti-bans-den-prokyptei-emploki-toy-iran-stin-ypothesi-tis-flydubai) — JD Vance: "There Is No Evidence of Iranian Involvement in the Flydubai Case" - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/vance-iran-in-ucak-kacirma-ihtimaline-karsi-abd-20300560-haberi) — Vance Felt Positive About the Measures Taken in the US Against the Possibility of Iranian Hijacking. - [Iefimerida](https://iefimerida.gr/kosmos/iraniki-emploki-stin-ypothesi-flydubai-bans) — Vance: "There Is No Evidence of Iranian Involvement in the Flydubai Case so Far" - iefimerida.gr - [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1890007/vans-gia-flydubai-den-uparhoun-akomi-oristika-stoiheia-gia-ebloki-tou-iran) — Vance on Flydubai: No Definitive Evidence of Iranian Involvement Yet - [Libre](https://libre.gr/2026/10/05/vans-gia-flydubai-den-prokyptei-akoma-eblok) — Vance on Flydubai: No Evidence of Iranian Involvement in the Incident - [Unknown](https://alquds.co.uk/%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B1%D9%8E-%D8%A3%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7) — U.S. Vice President: We Didn't See Any Conclusive Evidence of a Connection to Iran with the Flay Dubai Incident. - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2171022/vans-den-echo-dei-kanena-adiapseysto-stoicheio-poy-na-syndeei-tin-epithesi-kata-tis-flydubai-me-to-iran) — Vance: I Have Seen No Irrefutable Evidence Linking the Attack on Flydubai to Iran - [IMLebanon](https://imlebanon.org/2026/10/05/vance6554433) — Vance: There's No Conclusive Evidence of Iran's Connection to the Flye Dubai Crash. - [Ynet News](https://ynetnews.com/article/r95pira1c) — Vance: 'No conclusive evidence linking Iran to Fly Dubai incident' - [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/international/article-910685) — Vance: US looking at aircraft procedures following flydubai incident, no known Iran connection - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/vance-says-u-s-eyeing-bigger-question-in-israel-hijacker-attack) — Vance Says U.S. Eyeing Bigger Question In Israel Hijacker Attack ## Questions **What is the main focus of the investigation into the Flydubai incident?** Investigators are examining whether the Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, deliberately sought employment with Flydubai as part of a potential plan to target Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. Interrogation suggests he may have intended to crash the flight into the airport. **What did US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance say about Iran's involvement?** US President Donald Trump stated he personally believes Iran was responsible for the incident. In contrast, Vice President JD Vance indicated that there was "nothing conclusive" linking Iran to the event and that the US had not yet seen definitive evidence. **How did UAE authorities classify the Flydubai incident?** The UAE Attorney General and Prosecutor General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, stated that a preliminary investigation indicated that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack. The incident has been treated as a suspected terrorist act by regional authorities. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-investigated-for-targeting-ben-gurion-airport. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Flydubai co-pilot investigated for targeting Ben Gurion Airport", https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-investigated-for-targeting-ben-gurion-airport