World·Middle East
UAE prosecutor: FlyDubai co-pilot used crash axe in attempted terrorist act
United Arab Emirates Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said Saturday the co-pilot on flydubai Flight FZ1073 “attempted to carry out a terrorist act,” attacking the captain with a cockpit crash axe and trying to seize the flight controls, state news agency WAM reported via Al Jazeera. Fox News, citing a Middle Eastern source, identified the suspect as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami and said Oman Air grounded him in 2024 over extremist-view concerns before he moved to Dubai; a Gulf diplomat told the Associated Press investigators are weighing whether he acted alone or with extremist ties. The Sept. 30 Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight plunged before passengers and crew subdued the attacker and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; President Trump told reporters Thursday that, “based on what I’m hearing,” Iran was behind the attempt and warned Tehran would be “hit very hard” if proven responsible, the New York Post reported.
- Al Jazeera / WAMFlydubai co-pilot stabbed captain with crash axe in ‘terrorist’ attack: UAE
- Fox NewsFlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing captain identified as 29-year-old Omani national
- New York PostTrump says Iran behind failed flydubai hijack attempt ‘based on what I’m hearing’