The co-pilot who attempted to hijack an Israel-bound flydubai passenger plane likely intended to attack Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel's core gateway, CNN reported on the 5th, local time, citing Israeli sources including Israeli officials.

The sources stated that Israel continues to receive updated information from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is leading the investigation into the incident, adding that the probe remains in its early stages.

Previously, on September 30, inside the cockpit of a flydubai passenger plane flying from Dubai, UAE, to Tel Aviv, Israel, the Omani co-pilot, Hamam Al-Hammami (29), suddenly attacked the captain with an emergency axe and attempted to take control of the cockpit. The attempt was foiled after he was subdued by crew members and passengers.

The suspect was initially arrested in Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing, and has since been transferred to Abu Dhabi, UAE, for questioning.

Under international aviation law, jurisdiction over crimes committed aboard aircraft is primarily granted to the country of aircraft registration.

Amid reports that Al-Hammami made statements suggesting a confession that he intentionally tried to crash the plane, investigative efforts are currently focused on uncovering his exact motives and whether there were accomplices or masterminds.

In addition to the UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, which are directly involved in the case, New Zealand and Australia—where the suspect previously studied—have also joined the investigation. Law enforcement authorities from at least eight countries are collaborating on what resembles a "puzzle-solving" operation, the British daily The Guardian reported.

Citing regional sources including those in Israel, The Guardian reported that investigators believe Al-Hammami originally intended to carry out a terrorist attack in July, but postponed it because a friend of his was working as a flight attendant on that flight.

Experts believe it is highly likely that Al-Hammami, who previously worked for Oman Air for about seven years, sought employment at an airline operating routes to Israel specifically to carry out an aviation terrorist attack like this one.

He quit Oman Air shortly after being removed from flight duties due to issues surrounding extremist tendencies.

Al-Hammami subsequently passed through Morocco's national airline, Royal Air Maroc, before securing employment with flydubai, which operates routes to and from Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump strongly suspected that Iran was behind the attack.

Meeting with Fox News reporters at the White House on the 5th, President Trump responded to the question of whether he thinks Iran is behind the terrorist attack by saying, "Personally, I think so."
 
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)