Reuters published images of the Flydubai co-pilot linked to the incident aboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, after passengers and crew managed to restrain him inside the aircraft following the stabbing of its captain during the flight.
Information about the co-pilot and his previous movements
An informed source said the Omani co-pilot, named Humam al-Hamami, had been influenced by extremist ideas while previously in Syria. Sources added that Omani authorities had barred him from working in aviation after determining, according to their account, that he held extremist views. The sources said al-Hamami left Oman after being barred from flying, before travelling to the UAE.
These details remain based on information provided by sources, while UAE authorities have opened an official investigation to establish the circumstances and motives behind the incident. It occurred on Wednesday, when passengers and crew restrained the co-pilot after he stabbed the captain. Israeli officials said what happened appeared to be an obvious attempt to bring down the aircraft, which was carrying 174 passengers as well as crew members.
The flight's landing and the co-pilot's detention
Most of the passengers were Israeli. A Flydubai relief pilot who was travelling on the flight took control of the aircraft and landed it at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot after the landing before transferring him to the UAE on Thursday for questioning.
The Emirates News Agency reported on Thursday that the country's authorities had opened an investigation to establish the circumstances and motives behind the incident and determine whether it was linked to “any terrorist activity or purpose, or whether it involved prior planning or direction”. Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE president, praised the Indian pilot, Sumit Matchar, who was attacked during the incident.
He said that, while confronting what he described as a “serious terrorist act”, the pilot embodied courage and responsibility and displayed professionalism and a sense of ethics in the face of a potential disaster. Gargash urged against rushing to reduce the incident's circumstances to a simple explanation or adopting conspiracy theories about it, while stressing the importance of vigilance and caution when dealing with the risks of extremism and terrorism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was investigating whether the co-pilot had acted on anyone's instructions.
Netanyahu warned in a video statement released by his office that everyone involved in the incident would pay a “heavy price”.
