FlyDubai Co-Pilot Used Crash Ax in ‘Terrorist’ Cockpit Attack, Emirates Says
The violent midair assault on a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv has deepened concerns about the safety of Israelis traveling abroad.
The co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight, who allegedly assaulted the captain mid-trip, is currently under investigation in the United Arab Emirates. Authorities in the country are scrutinizing the co-pilot's background and possible motives behind the incident. The attack transpired on a route linking the UAE to Israel, culminating in the plane's forced landing in Saudi Arabia.
The suspect, identified as Hammam Al-Hamami, is a 29-year-old Omani national with Syrian heritage. Al-Hamami joined Flydubai following his departure from Oman Air and was unsuccessful in securing employment with Emirates airline. His employment with Flydubai has since been suspended due to suspicions of extremist beliefs, which he allegedly embraced during a visit to Syria.
Al-Hamami recently earned a degree in aviation management through distance learning in 2023 from Buckinghamshire New University. According to UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the co-pilot attempted a terrorist act by assaulting the captain in the cockpit with an emergency axe and attempting to take control of the aircraft.
Ongoing investigations aim to determine the full context, motivations, and connections to the incident, alongside conducting technical assessments and scrutinizing physical and digital evidence. The final outcomes will be disclosed once all requisite procedures have been finished.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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