Two More Flydubai Pilots Arrested in UAE Over Attempted Attack

Two additional Flydubai pilots, citizens of the Maldives, have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as part of the investigation into an attempted attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The arrests occurred on the Saturday preceding the October 8th report by Maldivian news outlet Adhadhu. Initially considered witnesses, the two pilots were later detained by local police, with their families only receiving confirmation of their whereabouts by Tuesday through the Maldivian embassy in the UAE. These pilots are among six Maldivian nationals employed by the airline. According to Adhadhu, they were in contact with Hamza Al-Hamami, an Omani citizen and co-pilot on the flight, who is suspected of attempting to hijack the plane and steer it towards Ben Gurion Airport. The specific charges against the two arrested pilots have not been disclosed, nor have any public evidence linking them to the planning or execution of the act been presented. The significant implication of these arrests is the suspicion that additional terrorists may have been involved in the decision to carry out the attack, potentially contradicting the theory of a lone perpetrator. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that Israel was investigating whether the attacker was sent by another entity or country and vowed retaliation if this were confirmed.