Israeli officials say co-pilot who attacked colleague on Flydubai flight likely acted alone

Israeli authorities told CNN that the co-pilot who assaulted the captain on a Flydubai flight to Israel likely acted alone, and no link to any group or government has been identified so far. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft made an emergency landing, are also conducting investigations.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attempted to seize control of the aircraft with a crash axe and described the incident as a “terrorist act.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect appears to have undergone Islamist radical indoctrination, based on personal information gathered during questioning, but offered no further details.

The flight, FZ1073, descended sharply after the attack. Captain Smit Machchhar, though wounded, unlocked the cockpit door and signaled distress, after which crew members entered the cockpit and regained control.

The suspect, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, had previously worked for Oman Air and briefly trained with Royal Air Maroc. A LinkedIn profile under his name, now removed, showed employment history and posted a photo of a former al-Qaeda leader shortly after the incident, though the source of the post is unclear.

Australian Federal Police are probing possible links to Australia. Questions have been raised about how an Omani citizen, a country without formal diplomatic ties to Israel, was permitted to serve as co-pilot on a flight bound for Tel Aviv, given Israel’s security protocols. Israel’s Transportation Ministry said its vetting procedures do not include checking crew members’ identities, while the Tax Authority confirmed passenger and crew names were provided before departure.

The episode has sparked criticism of Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev, with some opposition politicians calling for her dismissal.