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UAE Investigators Say flydubai Co-Pilot Planned “Terrorist Act,” Attacked Captain With Cockpit Axe

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UAE investigators have said the co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Israel earlier this week was planning a “terrorist act” when he attacked the captain with the cockpit’s emergency axe. They did not disclose a motive.

Initial findings from the investigation, reported on Saturday by the state news agency WAM, did not confirm the suspect’s nationality. A Saudi source, however, told AFP he was Omani.

WAM quoted UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi as saying the co-pilot “attempted to carry out a terrorist act” and tried to take control of the aircraft after attacking the captain in the cockpit. The suspect remains in custody in the UAE.

Several media outlets have identified him as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami and reported that he had been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about his extremist views.

The plane’s Indian captain was assaulted but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Passengers described rushing the cockpit and a struggle for control after the plane lost about 17,000 feet in a minute, according to Flightradar24.

Radical indoctrination claim

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” and tried to crash the plane.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported on Friday that Omani authorities had barred the pilot from flying over fears he had embraced radical views. CNN, citing two sources, said he was removed from a job at Oman’s national airline last year for the same reason. Al Arabiya, also citing an informed source, reported that Omani authorities concluded he held extremist views, and said he had spent time in Syria, raising concerns he may have been influenced by radical groups there. ABC News, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials, reported that he was allegedly found with extremist materials while a trainee.

US President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it were found to be linked to the attack.

Netanyahu said Israel would examine how the suspect was cleared to work on flights to the country. “We have constraints that say that you can’t have pilots from countries that don’t have diplomatic relations with Israel. Obviously he was able to go through that,” he told Fox News.

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