Al Qaeda calls for copycats to target US citizens on planes while praising Dubai flight hijacker

Key Points:

• Al Qaeda called for copycat attacks on American and Israeli airliners in a recent post referencing the 9/11 attacks and praising the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which occurred on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route.
• The post appeared in al-Bayan, a pro-Al Qaeda weekly publication, and included threatening language targeting "Zionists, Americans, and infidels," along with images of the 9/11 attacks and the recent hijacking attempt.
• The accused co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani pilot, allegedly attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe in an attempt to seize control of the plane but was restrained by crew and passengers; the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
• Investigations by UAE and Israeli authorities suggest al-Hammami was radicalized with ties to Al Qaeda ideology, with extremist material found on his phone and previous flying restrictions, though no public evidence confirms direct orders from Al Qaeda.
• The TSA is monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with international partners, while the UAE continues to investigate al-Hammami's motives and any potential external links or direction.