UAE says Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe in attempted terrorist act
publishers 89articles 142first reported 1 Oct, 10:06 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 18 editionstop 25 #5
The co-pilot of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe and tried to seize control of the Israel-bound aircraft, the United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general said Saturday.
The flight, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday with about 180 people aboard, plunged roughly 17,000 feet before passengers and crew subdued the attacker. Two reserve pilots then landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar said that, despite being injured, he managed to open the cockpit door so passengers could intervene.
UAE prosecutor general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi described the incident as an attempted “terrorist act” and said investigators were examining its circumstances and motive. A crash axe is normally stored in the cockpit for emergencies, addressing initial uncertainty over how the weapon reached the flight deck.
Several news organizations have identified the suspect as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, but authorities have not officially confirmed his name. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that Oman Air had previously removed him from flying duties because of concerns about extremist views. He was reassigned to an administrative role, according to reports.
Authorities are investigating whether the co-pilot acted alone or had links to an extremist group. Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv until further notice while the investigation continues.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 74 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 89
- Source articles
- 142
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 74 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: The story is broadly supported, but a few details need narrowing to match the sourced sequence and attribution. - "Two reserve pilots then took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.": The sources say two reserve pilots landed the plane after passengers took control/stabilised it; saying they 'then took control' omits the sourced passenger intervention and could misstate the sequence. - "A crash axe is normally stored in the cockpit for emergencies, resolving initial uncertainty over how the weapon reached the flight deck.": The sources say the crash axe finding addressed or explained questions about the weapon; 'resolving' the uncertainty is stronger than the sources support. - "The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that Oman Air had previously removed him from flying duties because of concerns about extremist views and reassigned him to an administrative role.": The cited sources attribute removal over extremist/radical views to the Wall Street Journal/CNN/US media, but the administrative reassignment is attributed in the sources to an official or US media, not clearly to the Wall Street Journal.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
UAE says Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe in attempted terrorist act
The co-pilot of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe and tried to seize control of the Israel-bound aircraft, the United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general said Saturday.
The flight, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday with about 180 people aboard, plunged roughly 17,000 feet before passengers and crew subdued the attacker. Two reserve pilots then took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar said that, despite being injured, he managed to open the cockpit door so passengers could intervene.
UAE prosecutor general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi described the incident as an attempted “terrorist act” and said investigators were examining its circumstances and motive. A crash axe is normally stored in the cockpit for emergencies, resolvingaddressing initial uncertainty over how the weapon reached the flight deck.
Several news organizations have identified the suspect as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, but authorities have not officially confirmed his name. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that Oman Air had previously removed him from flying duties because of concerns about extremist viewsviews. andHe was reassigned him to an administrative role.role, according to reports.
Authorities are investigating whether the co-pilot acted alone or had links to an extremist group. Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv until further notice while the investigation continues.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →