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UAE prosecutors alleged that Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attempted to carry out a terrorist attack during flight FZ1073, attacking the captain with an axe and trying to seize control of the aircraft. The captain unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene before the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Authorities are investigating the suspect's motives, connections and employment vetting, while Oman had reportedly barred him from flying over concerns about extremist views.
The co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday, according to the state news agency WAM.
The co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with an axe and attempted to take control of the Israel-bound aircraft, the prosecutor general said. The circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections are being investigated, he said. The co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain of the FlyDubai flight has been named as an Omani national Hamam al-Hammami.
The co-pilot, who officials said nearly crashed the sharply plummeting flight with 182 people aboard, was barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views, a person familiar with the matter said. The co-pilot was then hired by the United Arab Emirates-based airline FlyDubai, the source said. It is not clear to what extent he was vetted when he was hired. Oman’s barring of him was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
How the co-pilot managed to be working in the cockpit on Wednesday morning is a central question for investigators. Israel says has it has long-standing agreements with foreign carriers to keep pilots from flying into the country if they are citizens of nations that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Israel and Oman do not have formal diplomatic relations. There was no immediate comment from FlyDubai, the UAE government or Oman Air.
Oman’s government has said nothing publicly in response to questions since the incident. The captain, who was badly injured, has said he used his remaining energy while being stabbed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing people who had noticed unusual sounds to come in, tackle the co-pilot and stabilise the plane. It made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The captain and co-pilot were later taken to the UAE as it leads the investigation.
Officials have said a number of countries, including Israel, are participating. – Reuters, PA
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Terrorism Investigation Cockpit Attack Hamam Al-Hammami
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