The co-pilot of Flydubai flight, accused of stabbing the captain, attempted a terrorist attack using an emergency axe. UAE officials stated that this incident occurred on flight number 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Details of the Attack
The attack took place while 182 people, including four pilots, were on board. After the co-pilot attacked the captain, two other pilots took control of the cockpit and safely landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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Reports indicate that the Omani co-pilot is identified as Hamam al-Hammami. UAE officials have not yet publicly commented on his identity. Additionally, reports suggest that he had been banned from flying due to concerns about his radical ideological views.
Concerns About Pilot Hiring
This incident has raised many questions about the background check processes in pilot hiring. The Wall Street Journal reported that the co-pilot was hired by Flydubai despite the ban from Oman and was allowed to fly on a sensitive route connecting the UAE and Israel.
Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, leading to the normalization of relations between the two countries. Israeli officials also stated that the co-pilot had undergone Islamic radical indoctrination and intended to crash the plane. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, warned that anyone involved in this incident would pay a heavy price.
Investigations are ongoing, and a Gulf diplomat stated that officials are trying to determine whether the co-pilot was a "lone wolf" or had connections with extremist groups. Reports also indicate that he was dismissed from his job at Oman Air last year due to concerns about his extremist views.
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