Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a 34-year-old operative linked to the Somali-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab, has been convicted by a U.S. federal jury in New York.
Abdullah was found guilty of plotting to carry out a terror attack inspired by the September 11 hijackings.
He was found guilty on six charges, including conspiracy to support Al-Shabaab and conspiracy to murder Americans.
Prosecutors revealed that Abdullah, who was based in the Philippines, attended flight school to train for a potential hijacking attack.
His goal was to crash a commercial plane into a U.S. target.
He was arrested in the Philippines in 2019 and subsequently extradited to the United States.
Abdullah faces a maximum life sentence for the charge of conspiring to commit terrorism across national borders.
Other charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years each.
His sentencing is set for March 10.
This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab beyond Somalia, where the group has been involved in numerous attacks.
