Flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned to crash flight at Tel Aviv airport
publishers 139articles 254first reported 30 Sep, 22:23 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 22 editionstop 25 #13
A Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of Flight FZ1073 intended to crash the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, according to Israeli officials and other people briefed on the United Arab Emirates-led investigation.
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 with more than 170 passengers and crew aboard when the co-pilot allegedly struck and wounded Capt Smit Machchhar with an emergency crash axe and attempted to seize control. The aircraft descended rapidly before passengers and crew subdued the attacker. A reserve Flydubai pilot travelling aboard took control and landed safely in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Everyone aboard was accounted for.
The UAE attorney-general has described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack, but authorities have not publicly established a motive or announced formal charges. Multiple reports identify the detained co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, though UAE authorities and Flydubai have not publicly confirmed his identity.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that the co-pilot said during questioning that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai. Another person briefed on the investigation said he had considered attacking an earlier Tel Aviv flight but abandoned that plan. NPR reported that investigators believe he probably acted alone.
Regional sources cited by several outlets said Oman Air had previously barred him from flying over concerns about alleged extremist views before moving him to an administrative role. It remains unclear what information was shared with Flydubai. Australian authorities are separately investigating his connections to Australia, where he reportedly studied between 2015 and 2017.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 110 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 139
- Source articles
- 254
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 110 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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