Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with emergency axe, UAE says
UAE authorities are investigating an incident where a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an axe during a flight to Israel. The co-pilot, an Omani national, had reportedly been barred from flying in his home country due to extremist views.
Why it matters
The incident raises serious questions regarding international aviation security, pilot vetting processes, and the sharing of intelligence between airlines and nations.
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 a crash 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.
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