Flydubai flight, UAE investigation: ‘The co-pilot was planning an attack: he used the emergency axe’
Terrorist-related images on his social media. First flight to Tel Aviv since last week’s incident
The investigation carried out in the United Arab Emirates into the FlyDubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday has revealed that the co-pilot was planning a ‘terrorist act’ and that he used the emergency axe in the cockpit to attack the captain, attempting to ‘take control of the aircraft’: this was stated by the UAE’s Attorney General Al Shamsi, as quoted by the official news agency WAM. Investigations into the incident on board the flight are continuing.
The co-pilot suspect in an attempted terrorist attack has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national. This has been reported by several US media outlets. CNN reports that two posts were published on a LinkedIn profile under that name – which was subsequently removed – nine hours after the incident.
The first features footage shot from the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max, featuring footage of aircraft operated by Israeli airlines such as El Al, and a photo of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who led al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden. The second post featured images of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. It is unclear who published the posts or whether they had been scheduled in advance.
Meanwhile, he has landed in Tel Aviv – the first flight has landed in Tel Aviv, bringing Israeli citizens home from the United Arab Emirates, following the suspension of flights after the incident. The arrival came after Wednesday’s events on the Dubai–Tel Aviv route which, according to the authorities, narrowly averted a catastrophe. The United Arab Emirates are investigating the incident and have not yet established the attacker’s motive.
