UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi announced on 3/10 that an Omani first officer on Flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted a "terrorist attack." Officials confirmed the individual used an emergency axe from the cockpit to attack the captain and gain control of the aircraft. Emergency axes are tools designed to help pilots break through obstacles in urgent situations.
This information clarifies the incident, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated the weapon used by the first officer was a switchblade. Investigators, as cited by Saudi Arabian media, identified the first officer as Hamam al Hamami, 29, an Omani national. Major news agencies in the US and Israel have also confirmed this information. The suspect was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE on 2/10 for investigation into terrorism charges.
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Image posted on Hamam al Hamami's social media account. Photo: News9.
According to al-Shamsi, investigators are currently clarifying all details of the attack, including the motive, related connections, technical examinations, and evidence review. The final results will be announced once these investigations are complete.
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Image of the injured and restrained first officer after attacking the captain on 30/9. Photo: East2West.
On 30/9, Flydubai flight FZ1073 activated its distress transponder, reporting an emergency and a hijacking. The aircraft subsequently experienced sudden and continuous changes in altitude, unable to maintain a stable height, before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred because the first officer attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane, but the captain resisted and received timely assistance from passengers.
Hamami was born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. Although an Omani national, Hamami lived for many years in the UAE and made multiple visits to Syria, an area known for the activities of extremist Islamic organizations such as al-Qaeda and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militants. Sources indicate that Omani officials discovered Hamami had accessed extremist websites during his pilot training.
Hong Hanh (According to Al Jazeera, CBS)
