Al Qaeda publication calls for copycat airline attacks targeting U.S. citizens

Al Qaeda urged copycat strikes targeting American and Israeli airliners in its weekly publication, al-Bayan.

The message explicitly targets U.S. citizens aboard commercial flights while invoking the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.

The group praised an alleged hijacking attempt on a flydubai flight.

The UAE stated that a flydubai co-pilot used a crash ax to attempt a terrorist act.

Reports state that investigators discovered terrorist images on the social media accounts of the flydubai suspect.

For Indian Americans and U.S. citizens traveling abroad, the publication directs specific threats toward Americans on commercial airliners.