UAE says flydubai co-pilot planned to crash aircraft into Tel Aviv airport
publishers 30articles 33first reported 5 Oct, 13:45 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 12 editions
A flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Tel Aviv-bound flight intended to seize the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, the United Arab Emirates’ attorney general said Friday.
According to a statement carried by the UAE state news agency WAM, the suspect wanted to cause the greatest possible number of casualties and drew inspiration from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Authorities said he had taken two earlier Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flights to familiarize himself with the route and airport.
The co-pilot, identified by The Associated Press as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe on Sept. 30 while the plane was over Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The aircraft descended about 14,000 to 16,000 feet in less than a minute before passengers restrained the co-pilot. Two reserve pilots then landed the plane at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. Most of the 174 passengers were Israeli.
UAE prosecutors said the suspect confessed in the presence of his lawyer and maintained that he acted alone. They also said flydubai’s security and professional checks had not indicated extremist views or plans.
Saudi Arabia has opened an air-safety inquiry into the incident, while India’s National Investigation Agency has filed a case under anti-hijacking and national security laws. New Zealand police said the co-pilot completed part of his flight training in New Zealand.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 7 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 5 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 114 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 30
- Source articles
- 33
- Given to the writer
- 7, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 5
- This version written
- 114 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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