Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Earlier Attack, Investigation Reveals
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight to Israel, Maam Al-Hamami, told investigators he almost attacked last summer before attempting to crash the plane recently. He had been flagged as a security risk in 2024 but was hired by Flydubai eight months ago. Israeli and American intelligence are assisting the investigation in the Emirates. The attack was foiled by the captain, crew, and passengers, who subdued the co-pilot.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Flydubai co-pilot Maam Al-Hamami confessed to nearly attacking last summer before his recent attempt to crash the plane.
- Al-Hamami was previously flagged as a security threat in 2024 but was hired by Flydubai eight months ago.
- Israeli and American intelligence agencies are involved in the investigation of the incident in the Emirates.
- The co-pilot attacked Captain Smith Macchar with an axe, but the crew and passengers subdued him.
- The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the incident.
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, who attempted to crash the plane, told investigators he had nearly carried out an attack last summer before changing his mind, according to sources familiar with his interrogation cited by the Wall Street Journal. The Financial Times reported that investigators in the Emirates are withholding information from the interrogation of the co-pilot, Maam Al-Hamami. While Al-Hamami's digital footprint was erased, he was known to express extremist views online, combining radical interpretations of Islam with misogynistic language. Investigators are examining whether Al-Hamami acted alone when he attacked Captain Smith Macchar with an emergency axe. The Emirates has already declared the incident an act of terrorism. Sources close to the investigation told the Financial Times that Al-Hamami's web search history revealed he consumed extremist content while living in Australia.
Questions are being raised about background checks for Al-Hamami, who was reportedly flagged as a security threat in 2024 and suspended from pilot training at Oman Air for possessing extremist materials and posting violent, antisemitic content online. Despite this, he was hired by Flydubai only eight months ago. Israeli Mossad investigators and aviation experts, along with American intelligence agents, have arrived in Abu Dhabi to assist with the investigation.
The attack was thwarted by the quick actions of Captain Macchar, the crew, and Israeli passengers. Al-Hamami attacked the captain with an axe and attempted to bring down the aircraft. The injured captain managed to fight back and open the cockpit door, allowing passenger Yaniv Hayoun, other passengers, and crew members to subdue and restrain Al-Hamami. Two off-duty pilots on board regained control of the plane, stabilized it, and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, from where Al-Hamami was transferred to Emirati authorities.
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