Two More Flydubai Co-Pilots Arrested in UAE Over Flight Sabotage Attempt
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Two additional Maldivian co-pilots working for Flydubai have been arrested in the UAE as part of the investigation into a flight sabotage attempt. The pilots were reportedly arrested on October 3 and their families were only recently informed. The arrests come despite the main suspect, co-pilot Al-Hamami, claiming he acted alone. The exact role of the arrested pilots is still unclear, and investigations are ongoing in multiple countries.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Two additional Maldivian co-pilots from Flydubai were arrested in the UAE for their alleged involvement in a flight sabotage attempt.
- The arrested pilots reportedly knew the main suspect, Al-Hamami, and lived in the same building.
- The arrests occurred on October 3, but families were only recently informed by the Maldivian embassy.
- The main suspect, Al-Hamami, claimed during interrogation that he acted alone in planning the incident.
- Investigations into the incident are continuing in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India.
- The exact connection and suspected role of the two arrested pilots remain unclear.
The investigation into the attempted sabotage of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has expanded with the arrest of two additional co-pilots. Both are Maldivian citizens and are being held in the United Arab Emirates, according to Maldivian media reports. The Maldivian embassy in the UAE informed the pilots' families that they are in police custody, the news site Adhadhu reported. The two were reportedly arrested on Saturday, October 3, and their families had no contact with them for several days until the embassy provided an update.
Reports indicate they lived in the same building as Al-Hamami and also operated flights to Israel for the airline. However, their exact connection to the incident remains unclear, and it has not been disclosed if they are suspected of involvement in planning the sabotage, had prior knowledge of Al-Hamami's intentions, or were detained for questioning as part of the broader investigation.
Initial reports on October 3 stated that two Flydubai employees had been summoned for questioning by Emirati authorities, but not arrested. Days later, Adhadhu reported that their families received official notification of their arrest. Spokespeople for the Maldivian presidency and foreign ministry have declined to comment on the matter. The two are said to be among recent hires at the company, which employs six Maldivian pilots.
The arrests gain significance following the UAE Attorney General's statement on October 9, where Al-Hamami claimed he planned the attack and acted alone. Despite his claim, authorities continue to examine his personal and professional connections and the possibility that others were aware of or involved in his plans. Investigations are ongoing in the UAE, with parallel aviation safety inquiries in Saudi Arabia and a terror investigation in India.
The reports of the two co-pilots' arrests raise renewed questions about whether Al-Hamami acted alone or if others were aware of his plan. No evidence has yet been presented linking the two Maldivian pilots to the sabotage plot, and Emirati authorities have not publicly detailed the charges against them.
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