Flydubai Attacker Allegedly Trained With Extremists in Syria, Reports Claim
At a glance
- A co-pilot on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight attacked the captain with an axe.
- Reports allege the attacker trained with extremists in Syria after being expelled from Oman.
- The UAE has termed the incident an attempted terrorist attack and is leading the investigation.
Story so far
The United Arab Emirates Prosecutor General has declared an incident aboard a flydubai flight to Israel an attempted “terrorist attack.” On flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe. Passengers and crew subdued the attacker, and the flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Sources have identified the co-pilot as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, who is now in UAE custody. Recent reports allege a background of extremism, claiming he was expelled from flight training in Oman and later trained with an extremist group in Syria.
Latest development
New reports, citing Israeli sources, allege the co-pilot accused of the attack was previously expelled from flight training in Oman for extremist views and later trained with an extremist group in Syria. The attack was reportedly a planned suicide mission.
Latest updates
New reports, citing Israeli sources, allege the co-pilot accused in the Flydubai attack, Hammam al-Hammami, was previously expelled from flight training in Oman due to extremist tendencies.
It is further claimed that he then travelled to Syria, where he joined and trained with an extremist organization before securing a job at Flydubai. According to these reports, the attack was a planned suicide mission.
It was also reported that upon being subdued, the co-pilot repeatedly said, "Kill me." Saudi authorities are said to have recorded his initial statement before handing him over to the UAE.
Latest Fact Checks
Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe in attempted 'terrorist attack', UAE says
DUBAI/TEL AVIV: The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, which was bound for Israel, attempted to carry out a “terrorist attack” with an axe during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday. The co-pilot was identified a
امارات نے اسرائیل جانیوالی پرواز کی سعودیہ میں ہنگامی لینڈنگ کے واقعے کو دہشتگردی قرار دیدیا
متحدہ عرب امارات نے دبئی سے اسرائیل جانے والی اماراتی پرواز کی سعودی عرب میں ہنگامی لینڈنگ کے واقعے کو دہشت گردی قرار دیدیا۔
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