Al Qaeda-linked publication calls for attacks on US, Israeli planes after flydubai incident

A publication linked to Al Qaeda supporters has reportedly called for copycat attacks against American and Israeli aircraft, invoking the September 11 attacks while praising the alleged attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.

The warning appeared in the latest edition of al-Bayan, an Arabic-language weekly launched in July by supporters of Al Qaeda, according to The New York Post. The publication urged attacks against aircraft carrying Americans, Israelis and others it described as fighting Islam.

“The war isn’t over yet,” the publication reportedly said, adding that aircraft carrying “Zionists” and Americans could be targeted as they were on September 11 and during the September 30 flydubai incident.

It also claimed that the United States and Israel had more enemies than before and said that an individual acting against them could ultimately benefit Islam. The publication further declared that the “empire of evil America” would eventually end, according to the New York Post.

The material was circulated on Al Qaeda-linked Telegram channels on Saturday before apparently being taken down.

Threat follows flydubai cockpit attack

The reported threat comes days after an incident aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.

Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami is accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempting to seize control of the aircraft. UAE authorities have officially described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after passengers and crew members helped overpower the attacker.

The incident has since triggered investigations into al-Hammami’s background, his alleged extremist views and how he came to operate an Israel-bound flight.

Reports have also said al-Hammami had previously been removed from flying duties at Oman Air after concerns about his extremist views. CNN reported that he had worked for Oman Air for seven years before leaving in February 2025. His LinkedIn profile also indicated subsequent links to Royal Air Maroc, although Reuters reported that the Moroccan airline said he underwent three months of training there in 2025 but was not selected for employment.

Social media accounts raise Al Qaeda questions

The latest development follows reports that material referencing Al Qaeda appeared on social media accounts bearing al-Hammami’s name around nine hours after the flydubai incident.

According to CNN, one of the posts contained footage apparently recorded inside the cockpit, including a sequence that appeared to zoom in on nearby Israeli aircraft. It then showed photographs of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al Qaeda leader who succeeded Osama bin Laden and was killed in 2022.

The same video reportedly featured Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, an Al Qaeda loyalist who carried out a 2009 suicide bombing at a CIA base in Afghanistan. The attack killed nine people, including seven American CIA officers and contractors.

A second post reportedly featured an AI-generated image showing Islam’s three holiest sites, Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, connected by a continuous glowing trail.

The posts appeared on LinkedIn and Instagram accounts while al-Hammami was already in custody. Both accounts were subsequently deleted. It remains unclear who uploaded the material or whether the posts had been scheduled in advance.

Investigators examine possible extremist links

The social media material has added another layer to the investigation into al-Hammami’s alleged motives and possible ideological affiliations.

Anti-terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann told The New York Post that the reference to al-Balawi was significant. He noted that al-Balawi was a largely self-radicalised Al Qaeda supporter who eventually established direct links with the organisation.

The apparent references to Al Qaeda figures have prompted questions over whether the flydubai incident was inspired by the group's ideology or whether the group is attempting to exploit the attack for propaganda purposes. There is currently no confirmed evidence establishing that al-Hammami was acting on behalf of Al Qaeda.

The UAE investigation is continuing to establish the circumstances, motive and whether anyone else was involved. UAE authorities have formally characterised the incident as a terrorist attack.

The reported Al Qaeda-linked call has meanwhile heightened concerns over the possibility of copycat attacks against aircraft, particularly those involving American or Israeli passengers or destinations.