An Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, believed to be the co-pilot, allegedly stabbed the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight according to sources familiar with the incident. The United Arab Emirates described the event as a “terrorist attack,” where the co-pilot used the cockpit’s crash axe in an attempt to take control of the plane.
The identity of the co-pilot was disclosed by three individuals speaking on anonymity due to lack of authorization. Investigations are ongoing to determine if he acted independently or had ties to extremist groups. The co-pilot, who reportedly endangered the flight with 182 passengers onboard, had been grounded by Oman for suspected extremist inclinations before being employed by FlyDubai.
Born in the UAE, the co-pilot’s nationality raised questions regarding how he accessed the cockpit amidst restrictions on pilots from certain countries. FlyDubai, the UAE government, and Oman Air have not yet commented on the incident. The co-pilot, with a Syrian mother, was previously employed by Oman Air but was reassigned to a non-flying role due to extremist concerns.
Security agencies from regional and Western nations are collaborating to ascertain the co-pilot’s motives. The attack was condemned as a “dangerous terrorist act” by UAE senior diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash. Notably, the co-pilot’s social media accounts were deleted on the day of the flight, adding to the mystery surrounding his background.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the co-pilot had been influenced by “Islamist radicalization.” The captain, who heroically unlocked the cockpit door during the attack, sustained severe injuries but managed to land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. The ongoing investigation involves multiple countries, with the UAE leading the efforts.
