Flydubai hijacker: "I did it as revenge for Gaza"

Shin Bet representatives have flown to the United Arab Emirates to take part in the interrogation of Muammar al-Hamami, the Omani pilot who attempted to hijack a Flydubai aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport.

The interrogation of al-Hamami is continuing to develop, and new details are emerging in Israel about what drove him to act. On Monday evening, Channel 12 News reported that in his interrogation, al-Hamami admitted he acted over what is happening in the Gaza Strip.

According to investigators, the pilot said he sought revenge for the war in Gaza and wanted to die during the operation. "I did it as revenge for Gaza, I wanted to die as a shahid," he said in his interrogation. It was also revealed that the pilot had planned to crash into an American base in Jordan if he failed to reach Ben Gurion Airport.

Israeli authorities are now trying to piece together the full picture and determine whether this was the pilot's personal initiative or an operation for which he was directed or recruited by another party.

The axe used by the pilot in the attempted hijacking (Photo: social media)

Parallel to the interrogation, authorities are continuing to examine the crew members who were on the aircraft. UAE authorities have questioned the flight attendants, who denied any involvement in the pilot's attempt.

According to reports from the interrogation, the crew members said they were confused during the incident but did not cooperate with the pilot or assist him. The reports have been passed to Israel, though Israeli investigators are not permitted to participate in the questioning of the aircrew in the Emirates.

One of the central keys to the investigation is now in al-Hamami's mobile phone. The device is in the hands of investigative authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are examining the information on it in an attempt to find additional clues about his motives, his connections and the planning of the incident. At the same time, the pilot's background is being examined, along with the possibility that he received assistance or direction from an outside party.