Emirati investigators described Wednesday's cockpit assault on an Israel-bound flydubai flight as an attempted terrorist attack, naming the suspect through sources as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami.
The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday that the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a terrorist attack with a crash axe during a flight bound for Israel. Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, in a statement carried by the UAE state news agency, said the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit and tried to take control of the aircraft.
Reuters reported that two sources identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Emirati authorities did not immediately confirm the name, and Oman had not commented. Israeli officials had earlier said the suspect was Omani. The airline is owned by Dubai's government, and the UAE is leading the investigation.
The flight, carrying more than 170 passengers and crew, most of them Israeli, left Dubai on Wednesday. Flight-tracking data cited by Reuters showed the aircraft dropped about 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds over Saudi Arabia. A reserve flydubai pilot on board landed the plane at Tabuk. Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot, who was transferred to Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Flydubai said on Saturday that the circumstances were still under investigation and that it would not comment further. Chief executive Ghaith al Ghaith had earlier called the diversion the result of a safety incident in the cockpit. Royal Air Maroc told Reuters the suspect completed a three-month training course in 2025 but was later rejected for employment.
An Israeli government official said Israeli investigators would take part in the UAE-led inquiry. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was examining whether the co-pilot acted under anyone's direction. Senior UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the country had zero tolerance for terrorism.
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- Anwar Gargash said the UAE had zero tolerance for terrorism
- Netanyahu said Israel was checking whether anyone else directed the co-pilot
- Flydubai said it was not in a position to comment further while the inquiry continues