The co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist attack” on Wednesday during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel, the Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates announced today, as reported by the country’s state news agency, WAM.
According to a source familiar with the case, the co-pilot’s name is Hamam al-Hamami, and he is an Omani national. He attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with an emergency axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the attorney general added.
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An axe is usually kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, such as a crash.
SEE ALSO: Flydubai Thriller Flight: Who Is the Pilot Who Attacked the Captain, and What Are His Extremist Views and Posts Linked to Al-Qaeda?
Investigations are currently underway to determine the circumstances of the incident, the co-pilot’s motives and any potential connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he noted.
These statements by the UAE’s Attorney General, Hamad Saif al-Samsi, are the first issued by the country’s authorities in which the incident on the Flydubai flight is characterized as a “terrorist attack.”
For his part, a spokesperson for the Emirati airline stated that the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation, adding that he was unable to comment further.
On Wednesday, passengers and crew members managed to subdue the co-pilot of the Flydubai flight, who had attacked the captain.
Israeli officials have stated that it appears the co-pilot intended to cause the crash of the aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 passengers —most of them Israelis—and crew members.
A Flydubai reserve pilot, who was on board the flight, took control of the aircraft and landed it at Tabuk Airport, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was arrested.
READ ALSO: “He prayed constantly and refused to shake hands with women”: The profile of the co-pilot who attempted to crash the Flydubai plane
An Israeli government official has told Reuters that Israeli investigators will take part in the investigation being conducted by the UAE to determine exactly what happened during the flight, as well as the co-pilot’s motives and background.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated yesterday, Friday, that Israel is considering the possibility that the co-pilot acted on orders from third parties, warning that anyone involved would pay a “heavy price.”
On Thursday, Netanyahu had stated that the co-pilot —whom he identified as an Omani national—had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and exhibited suicidal tendencies, although he clarified that the motive for his actions had not yet been determined.
Source: Proto Thema
