The co-pilot who attempted to hijack a flydubai flight last week had planned to crash the aircraft into Israel as early as July, according to regional officials with knowledge of the investigations.

Hamam al-Hammami, 29, is alleged to have used an axe to attack his co-pilot Smit Machchhar while the pair were flying flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 31.

Mr Machchhar was able to open the cockpit door during the alleged attack, which allowed several passengers to restrain Mr al-Hammami and two off-duty pilots to land the aircraft at a regional Saudi Arabian airport.

Israeli media is reporting Mr al-Hammami had planned to crash the aircraft — which was carrying more than 180 passengers — into Ben Gurion airport or a nearby major target.

Mr al-Hammami had previously worked for Oman Air, but was moved to a “desk job” over concerns he held extremist beliefs and left the airline in 2025, according to The Guardian.

He was then hired by the Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc, but was not cleared to fly and soon left the airline to join flydubai.

It is believed flydubai conducted criminal record checks on Mr al-Hammami, but did not screen him for extremism or radicalisation.

According to reports, Mr al-Hammami had sought to work for an airline which offered flights directly into Israel and actively tried to be scheduled to work on flights between Dubai and Tel-Aviv, according to people briefed on official investigations by UAE and Israeli authorities.

“I looked into which airline flies to Tel Aviv. That’s why I chose flydubai. I planned it even before I was accepted,” Mr al-Hammami told investigators, according to The Times of Israel.

Further investigation has reportedly revealed Mr al-Hammami, who is an Omani national, had planned to carry out the attack in July this year before changing his plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed Mr al-Hammami “underwent Islamic radical indoctrination” before the incident.

“That appears to be something we are gathering from his personal information,” Mr Netanyahu told Fox News.

The Australian is reporting Mr al-Hammami moved to Australia in 2014 and began studying in an engineering degree the following year.

It is believed he spent three years in the country before leaving in 2017, and obtained a degree in aviation management from New Buckinghamshire University in the UK in 2023.

The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it is investigating Mr al-Hammami’s time in Australia.

“The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, can confirm it is investigating the man’s links to Australia,” an AFP spokeswoman said.

“An update will be provided at an appropriate time.”