UAE calls flydubai cockpit incident terrorist attack, says co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe
PTC News Desk: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called the cockpit attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 a 'terrorist attack', saying the Omani co-pilot used the aircraft’s crash axe to attack Indian captain Smit Machchhar and then tried to take control of the plane.
According to a statement from the UAE Attorney General, the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the aircraft’s emergency axe before trying to take control of the plane. The flight was carrying 174 people. Passengers and crew members intervened and managed to overpower him.
An official from the region told the Associated Press that the Omani co-pilot had previously been removed from flying duties at Oman Air and transferred to an administrative position. The official also said that al-Hammami was born in the UAE and that his mother is Syrian.
Meanwhile, UAE's senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash also described the incident as a 'dangerous terrorist act' in a post on X.
"The Indian pilot at "Flydubai," Smit Mathur, deserves every bit of appreciation, for he embodied the meaning of courage and responsibility in the face of a dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster. His professionalism and moral sense in the darkest of circumstances make him a true hero," Gargash wrote on X.
Who was Omani co-pilot ?
The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Saudi state-owned media outlet Al-Arabiya first reported his identity, while three other people familiar with the investigation, including Gulf and Western diplomats, also confirmed it to the Associated Press.
His past has now come under increased scrutiny. According to an AP report, Oman had previously stopped al-Hammami from flying because of concerns over his alleged extremist views. He later joined flydubai, but it is not clear how thoroughly the airline investigated his background or whether it was aware of the reasons he had previously been removed from flying duties in Oman.
The incident
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying more than 170 passengers when the incident was reported inside the cockpit. According to reports, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot as the aircraft was flying over Saudi Arabia. The plane subsequently lost a significant amount of altitude before passengers and other crew members intervened and helped regain control of the aircraft.
Machchhar, who suffered serious injuries, reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and overpower the attacker. The aircraft was then diverted to Tabuk, where the injured crew members were taken to hospital. Machchhar has since been reported to be in stable condition.
A fellow pilot has reportedly described the Omani co-pilot as a “religious extremist”, claiming that he prayed frequently and refused to shake hands with women. Investigators are expected to examine the co-pilot's background, conduct and possible motive before reaching any conclusions.
- PTC NEWS
