Aditya DidwaniyaA pilot held over a violent clash on a Flydubai flight has reportedly told investigators he meant to bring the plane down in Israel. Reports also point to earlier warning signs about his views.
The Flydubai pilot suspected of attacking a colleague mid flight has reportedly made a shocking admission. U.S. broadcaster ABC says he wanted to crash the aircraft in Israel. The network cited sources familiar with the investigation.
“the suspect is cooperating with the authorities investigating the incident, and he made clear he intended to crash the plane in Israel.”
Who is the suspect
ABC identified the suspect as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani citizen aged 29. Investigators had earlier found extremist materials on him. Even so, authorities in his home country let him work for an airline in an administrative role.
Questions over his hiring
The Wall Street Journal had earlier reported that Omani authorities banned this Flydubai pilot from flying planes. They cited his radical views. Despite the ban, Flydubai reportedly hired him anyway. The report did not say whether Oman shared its concerns about his radicalization with other countries or airlines.
What happened on the flight
On Wednesday, a Flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv sent an emergency signal. After some time, it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The airline confirmed that the pilots fought during the flight.
Media reports later claimed one pilot stabbed the other with a knife and wanted to cause a crash. Passengers on that flight confirmed this account. Israeli authorities called the incident an attempted terror attack.
Akshay Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
Mayur Mohta