Dutch commentator Afshin Ellian said the attempted downing of a Flydubai passenger flight bound for Tel Aviv shows that Jewish people remain a sought-after target, De Telegraaf reported on Monday, 5 October 2026.
The remarks, published by De Telegraaf, followed reports that a co-pilot tried to crash the aircraft as it approached the airport in Tel Aviv. The flight involved was FZ1073, according to reporting summarized in the Dutch press.
The man named in Dutch coverage as Hamam al-Hammami, who is said to have wanted to bring down flight FZ1073, is described by de Volkskrant as unusually extremist for a man from Oman. De Telegraaf reported that the pilot had previously wanted to crash the plane, and that he postponed the act at the last moment.
Australia is examining possible ties to the co-pilot, who attacked a colleague during the flight, according to NU. AD.nl also reported that the co-pilot sought to bring the Flydubai flight down at Tel Aviv airport.
Ellian's comments, as carried by De Telegraaf, frame the incident as evidence that Jews continue to be a target of attack. The reports do not provide further detail on the investigation or on the attacker's background beyond what the Dutch outlets have published.
What to watch next: whether Australian authorities confirm any links to the co-pilot, and what the ongoing investigation establishes about the plot.
