UAE Prosecutor: Flydubai Hijacking Attempt Was Terror Attack

The UAE's Attorney General has officially declared the emergency incident on Flydubai flight FZ1073 a terrorist attack attempt. According to a statement from the UAE's state news agency WAM, the co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe in the cockpit and then attempted to seize control of the aircraft to complete the attack. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances, motives, and any potential connections the attacker may have had to other groups. Digital evidence is also being examined.

This digital evidence links to a CNN report about the co-pilot's radicalization. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani citizen named Mhamad Al-Hammami, reportedly posted videos on LinkedIn from the cockpit on the day of the incident, zooming in on El Al and Arkia planes at Dubai Airport. His LinkedIn post concluded with images of the late Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and another terrorist. An analysis of his deleted X (formerly Twitter) account revealed older posts expressing misogyny and extremism, including criticism of women working alongside men and pride in his refusal to marry until his mother found him a wife who would wear a niqab and stop working.

The UAE's official statement corroborates Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's earlier assessment that the incident was an act of terrorism, stating the attacker underwent an "Islamic radicalization process" and intended to "crush the passengers on board."

Earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal indicated that despite a history of extremism that led to his suspension from flying by Oman, the co-pilot was successfully hired by Flydubai and cleared to fly a route sensitive to Israel. Security experts have called his hiring a serious, overlooked security failure. The disaster was ultimately averted due to the injured captain's resourcefulness. He managed to open the cockpit door despite being axed, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker. Two backup pilots on board then stabilized the aircraft and executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.