In brief
On 30 September a Flydubai jet heading to Tel Aviv was attacked by its co‑pilot, who struck the captain with a crash axe. Passengers over‑powered the bad actor and the plane made a dramatic descent before two reserve pilots steered it safely to Saudi Arabia. Australian Federal Police have launched an inquiry into the co‑pilot’s former student visa and possible radicalisation while UAE officials review the incident as a potential terrorist act. The man, identified as Hamam al‑Hammami, had his visa cancelled in 2019 and previously worked for Oman Air.
On 30 September a Flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv experienced a violent incident when the co‑pilot allegedly struck the captain with a crash axe.
During the failed attempt at control, passengers rushed the cockpit, over‑powered the co‑pilot, and forced the aircraft onto a dramatic descent to 17,000 feet.
Two reserve pilots steered the jet to a safe emergency landing at a Saudi airbase, where authorities later detained the co‑pilot.
Australia’s Federal Police are launching an inquiry into the co‑pilot’s former student visa, studying in the country between 2015 and 2017, and any possible radicalisation.
Preliminary reports indicate the man, identified as Hamam al‑Hammami, had his student visa cancelled in 2019 and was known to authorities as an Omani national with previous work at Oman Air.
Officials in the United Arab Emirates say the incident may have been a terrorist act and are reviewing the co‑pilot’s background, including studies in UK distance‑learning courses.
