The co-pilot identified as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami is accused of brutally attacking the captain of a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv with the cockpit’s crash axe, an act investigators are probing for potential extremist links, according to a Middle Eastern source. Al-Hammami was reportedly barred from flying with Oman Air in 2024 due to concerns over extremist views, with authorities believing he relocated to Dubai later that year. The United Arab Emirates, leading the investigation, stated that the co-pilot’s attack incapacitated the captain, causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers intervened. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the incident as terrorism, suggesting the attacker underwent “Islamic radicalization” and intended to crash the plane. FlyDubai reportedly did not consult Oman Air before hiring al-Hammami, who spent significant time abroad, including living with his Syrian mother. The probe is currently determining if al-Hammami acted alone or had connections to extremist groups.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
