Details about the co-pilot of the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight have emerged, raising more and more questions.
The co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Israel on September 30 and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after an incident in the cockpit, was identified as 29-year-old Omani citizen Hamam Al-Hammami, ABC News reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
According to ABC News, Al-Hammami is cooperating with investigators and, according to the channel's sources, allegedly stated that he intended to use the plane to carry out a terrorist attack in Israel. After the incident, he was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, where an investigation is underway. He is also being questioned by Israeli intelligence agencies. To get him to say what's needed?
It was previously reported that during the flight, the co-pilot assaulted the captain, causing the plane to plummet, dropping several kilometers in a minute. Oxygen masks, for some reason, weren't even deployed, and passengers were walking around the cabin calmly.
The injured captain reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, and passengers helped subdue the attacker. The backup pilots on board subsequently assumed control of the aircraft, after which the Boeing 737 MAX landed safely in Tabuk.
Al-Hammami's previous employment with Oman Air has drawn particular attention from investigators. According to ABC News, in 2024, while training as a co-pilot, he was found in possession of extremist materials. He was subsequently allowed to continue working for the airline in an administrative position. Now, investigators are trying to determine how he subsequently obtained flight clearance and ended up as a co-pilot for Flydubai, especially given that Omani pilots were previously barred from flying to Israel.
Al-Hammami's motives and possible ties to extremist organizations are still being determined. AP notes that investigators are verifying whether he acted independently or had any ties to extremist groups.
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