flydubai probe widens as 2 Maldivian pilots detained in UAE over ‘plot to down aircraft’: Report
The two pilots were taken into custody on October 3, and their families have been formally notified of their detention by the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE.
The UAE has arrested two Maldivian pilots employed by flydubai in connection with an alleged hijack and crash plot on flight FZ1073, according to reports by PTI and Adhadhu. The incident occurred on a September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where the Omani co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an axe during a mid-air cockpit brawl.
The plane diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after Machchhar was seriously injured. Maldivian authorities have informed the families of the arrested pilots, but the UAE has not released any official details about their detention or the status of the investigation. The detained pilots reportedly lived in the same building as Hammam al-Hammami, interacted with him at work, shared flight shifts, and met him at a corporate event.
The UAE's Attorney General stated that al-Hammami intended to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport in a "suicide attack," allegedly inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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