Flydubai Co-Pilot Accused of Attempted Terror Attack on Flight to Israel
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Flydubai co-pilot accused of attempted terror attack on flight to Israel.
- Suspect, 29, allegedly tried to crash plane into Israel.
- Pilot had been grounded previously for radicalization.
- Minimum age for Israeli captains is 23; co-pilots can be licensed from 18 in Europe.
- International pilot age limit is generally 65.
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight to Israel, identified as 29-year-old Hammam Al-Hamami, an Omani citizen born in the UAE, is suspected of attempting a terror attack. According to the UAE's Attorney General, Al-Hamami attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft's systems. He reportedly confessed that his intention was to crash the plane into Israeli territory.
Al-Hamami had previously worked for Oman Air for seven years but was grounded and left the company after exhibiting signs of Islamist radicalization. This means he had been serving as a co-pilot since the age of 22.
The article explores the minimum age requirements for piloting passenger planes. In Israel, the minimum age to be a captain is 23, requiring a high-level Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL). A commercial pilot license (CPL), allowing paid flights, can be obtained at 18. Internationally, the age limit for commercial pilots is typically 65, though an amendment in Israel allows domestic flights up to age 67 under certain conditions.
In Europe, the minimum age for an ATPL is 21, but pilots can work as co-pilots from age 18 with a CPL and specific certifications, a status known as "Frozen ATPL."
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