FlyDubai Hijacker May Face Death Penalty in UAE

A terrorist who attempted to hijack a FlyDubai flight and crash it into Israel could face the death penalty in the United Arab Emirates, according to a high-ranking source in Abu Dhabi cited by Israeli journalist Smadar Peri. The source indicated that after the investigation concludes, Hamam al-Hamami will likely be executed, emphasizing that the absence of fatalities among passengers should not lessen the severity of the punishment. "The punishment must be the harshest," the source stated, adding that it should serve as a warning to the perpetrator and anyone who may have supplied him with extremist materials and ideas. Pardon is not being considered.

The investigation is being led by UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi. Israeli intelligence officers and aviation specialists have reportedly joined the probe in Abu Dhabi, along with representatives from Saudi and Omani intelligence agencies and at least two American intelligence officials. Investigators are working to determine the 29-year-old Omani citizen's specific plans. The source suggested that al-Hamami intended not just to crash the plane, but to seize control and direct it towards a high-rise building in Israel, with the Azrieli towers in Tel Aviv mentioned as a potential target, drawing parallels to the 9/11 attacks.

Investigators are scrutinizing al-Hamami's past. He was previously dismissed from flights at Oman Air due to extremist materials found in his possession. He later moved to administrative work before leaving the company. He also reportedly worked or trained in Morocco and spent time in Syria before being hired by FlyDubai. The investigation is also examining who approved his hiring at FlyDubai and whether background checks were properly conducted.

On September 30, al-Hamami attacked the captain of flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv using an emergency axe from the cockpit. The plane lost altitude sharply, but the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers to subdue the attacker. The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and al-Hamami was subsequently handed over to UAE authorities. The UAE Attorney General has officially labeled the co-pilot's actions as an attempted terrorist act, though motives and full circumstances are still under investigation.

If the investigation confirms the most severe interpretation of the charges, al-Hamami could receive one of the UAE's harshest sentences. The UAE's legal code includes the death penalty for severe crimes like terrorism, murder, rape, and large-scale drug trafficking. While the death penalty requires presidential approval for execution, the president can commute it to a lesser sentence. Executions in the UAE are typically carried out by firing squad.