An American Airlines mechanic loyal to ISIS attempted to sabotage a flight taking off from Miami International Airport in July, authorities say.
The attempted radical Islamic terror attack could have claimed the lives of 150 people. Luckily, federal agents stopped Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani before he had the chance to strike.
Prosecutors say that evidence discovered on 31-year airline veteran’s phone suggested that he has ties to ISIS. On a separate occasion, he even called for Allah to take revenge on all non-Muslims.
The investigation began when 60-year-old Alani disabled the navigation system of a Miami airplane.
Jose Ruiz, an air marshal, wrote in an affidavit that during his surveillance a man in a white pickup truck could be seen pulling up to the plane in question and messing with the equipment before driving away.
The pilot was vigilant enough to notice the irregularity during takeoff and the flight was aborted.
Alani confessed to what he did, but claimed he’d only been upset with ongoing union contract negotiations: he’d intended to have the flight cancelled so that he could work overtime “fixing” the plane.
Investigators searched through his phone where they found evidence of an ISIS execution that he shared, along with the message, “use all your might and power against the Kafir,” or non-Muslim.
He later told investigators behind closed doors that he had an “evil side.”
Alani was born in Iraq and had sent up to $700 back to his home country, according to Western Journal. According to ABC News Local 10, a co-worker alleged that Alani touted that he had a brother in ISIS, who he’d traveled to meet before.
He has since been denied bail by Magistrate Judge Chris McAliley.
The would-be terrorist faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this article