Flydubai co-pilot attempted to hijack Tel Aviv flight, investigation reveals

Israeli officials claim the Omani co-pilot of a Flydubai flight likely acted alone when he attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. According to new reports, Hamam al-Hammami did not have any known links to a group or government. The investigation is ongoing, with Israeli authorities examining whether al-Hammami attempted to further crash the Boeing 737 after his initial attack on Captain Smit Machchhar.

The co-pilot allegedly pushed the aircraft's engine fuel switches into the "Cutoff" position, potentially aiming to crash the plane in the Saudi desert. The incident occurred on September 30 during Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, who was wounded.

The UAE attorney general described the incident as an attempted "terrorist act", and authorities are investigating the matter in the UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, had previously worked for Oman Air and was removed from his previous job due to concerns about his extremist views. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested al-Hammami may have undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination", but provided no further details.

The incident has raised questions about aviation security and the vetting of foreign flight crews, particularly as Oman does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.