Flydubai and the United Arab Emirates authorities have confirmed that the co-pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain using the emergency crash axe from the cockpit, according to statements from the company and UAE officials. The confirmation follows earlier reports identifying the Omani national as the attacker in an attempted hijacking that was thwarted by passengers and crew.
Flydubai and United Arab Emirates authorities have confirmed that the co-pilot of flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain using the emergency crash axe from the cockpit. UAE Attorney General Hamad al-Shamsi stated Saturday that the co-pilot "tried to commit a terrorist act during the flight," attacking the captain with the axe and attempting to seize control of the aircraft. The investigation into the motive and circumstances is ongoing, according to UAE officials.
The Zioneer reported earlier Saturday (at 22:22 Jerusalem) that UAE authorities had identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, and that al-Hammami had been denied employment by other airlines due to his radical jihadist views.
In previous coverage, The Zioneer reported on Thursday (Oct 1) that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the suspect's extradition to Israel. The Zioneer also reported on Saturday (Oct 3) that Israeli passengers who helped restrain al-Hammami told the New York Post that cabin crew asked them to release the attacker during the incident; they refused. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the suspect remains in custody, as previously reported.
The exact motive and any potential connections remain under investigation by UAE authorities.
2 developments
- StrongItalian investigation reveals Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with emergency axe, shut down both engines over Saudi desert
- StrongFlydubai passengers tell New York Post: crew asked us to release terrorist co-pilot
- DevelopingBen-Gvir: Israel Should Seek Extradition of Flydubai Co-Pilot
- ConfirmedOmani co-pilot planned to crash plane into Ben Gurion Airport terminal, interrogation report says
Source and signal
- Open-source intake