Flydubai passengers tell New York Post: crew asked us to release terrorist co-pilot

Confrontation in the Cabin

New testimony from the Israeli passengers who intervened during the attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight FZ 1073 reveals a startling disagreement with the aircraft's cabin crew. Tzvi Menas and Eyal Shlichter, speaking to the New York Post, recounted that as they were wrestling with the Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, members of the flight crew asked them to release him. The passengers refused, recognizing the immediate threat to the aircraft and everyone on board.

This development adds a new layer to the timeline of the September 30 incident. As The Zioneer reported earlier, the aircraft was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv when al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain with a sharp object and forced the plane into a rapid descent. The intervention of Israeli passengers is credited with preventing a mass-casualty disaster on Israeli soil.

Investigation and Radicalization

The testimony follows reports that al-Hammami has confessed to investigators his intent to crash the plane in Israel. According to sources involved in the investigation, the aircraft's sudden dive only began when the Israeli passengers reached the cockpit and began pulling al-Hammami from the controls. It was at this moment that he reportedly pushed the yoke forward in a final attempt to down the plane.

Further digital forensic probes have linked al-Hammami to extremist ideologies. As previously covered by The Zioneer, his deleted social media profiles contained al-Qaeda-related materials and footage of Israeli aircraft. Investigations have also revealed that he was previously dismissed from two other airlines, Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, due to the possession of extremist content.

Security Response

The incident has prompted a severe response from Israeli security and transportation officials. Operations of Flydubai to Israel were suspended for six days following the attack, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged a "breach" in aviation security protocols. The Prime Minister has characterized the event as a terrorist attack driven by "Islamist radicalization."

While the suspect remains in custody, Israeli investigative teams have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to further probe the plot and determine if al-Hammami acted alone or was directed by external terror infrastructures. The Zioneer will continue to follow official updates as the investigation into the security failure and the suspect's affiliations continues.