Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) endorsed the failed hijacking of flydubai Flight FZ1073 in a new editorial for its weekly magazine, Al-Bayan. Titled “Between September 11 and September 30,” the piece features images of both the World Trade Center collapse and the Dubai-bound Boeing 737. The text declares the conflict ongoing, stating that aircraft carrying Americans and Israelis remain vulnerable to attack.
The editorial does not just mourn the failure; it weaponizes the attempt. AQAP argues that had the crash succeeded, the regional balance of power would have shifted. It goes further, inviting non-Muslims to carry out strikes if their actions serve Islamic interests. “An attack might well be launched by someone who believes in neither God nor the Hereafter,” the Arabic text reads, positioning the group as an ideological broker for any violence against US and Israeli targets.
The incident referenced involves Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who fought off an axe attack by Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami. Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. The Boeing 737 plunged 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before a second pair of pilots landed the jet safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The publication’s release signals a broader recruitment drive. By framing the hijacking as a successful demonstration of vulnerability, AQAP aims to inspire further plots against commercial aviation. The group’s messaging targets both Muslim and non-Muslim actors, broadening the potential threat vector for airlines operating in the Middle East and beyond.