FlyDubai Co-Pilot Barred Over Radical Views Attacked Captain, Aimed to Crash into Israel

The co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight who stabbed the captain was previously grounded in Oman due to concerns over radical Islamist views, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter. Despite this ban, the pilot was hired by FlyDubai and allowed to fly routes connecting the UAE and Israel. The suspect, identified as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, is currently under investigation in the UAE by the State Security Service, which reports directly to UAE President Muhammad bin Zayed. ABC News reported that al-Hammami is cooperating with investigators and stated his goal was to crash the plane into Israel. The UAE's Attorney General has characterized the co-pilot's actions as an attempted terrorist act, noting he attacked the captain with a fire axe from an emergency kit and tried to seize control of the aircraft. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances, causes, and motives. On October 2, Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE President, publicly called the incident an "act of terrorism" on social media. He praised pilot Smith Machhar, who, despite injuries, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. Gargash was the first UAE official to publicly label the event terrorism. Initial Saudi investigation revealed the co-pilot attacked the captain, and both were injured. After medical treatment, they were handed over to UAE authorities, with a special investigative team formed in Abu Dhabi.