The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 used an axe to attempt to carry out a “terrorist attack” during the Israel-bound flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said.
Disaster was narrowly averted on Wednesday when passengers and crew intervened to stop the co-pilot from his attempt to take control of the plane, which had 182 people on board and plunged 16,625ft in just over 30 seconds. The descent was so extreme that part of the rudder was ripped off.
Investigators have been trying to establish how the alleged attacker, who was seen by witnesses repeatedly stabbing the pilot in the cockpit, managed to smuggle a weapon on board.
But on Saturday, Gen Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, a UAE prosecutor, said the co-pilot had used a crash axe to mount the attack, an implement typically kept inside the cockpit to use in emergencies, such as crashes or fires, and which would not have needed to be brought onboard covertly.
“Investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack,” Al Shamsi was quoted as saying by the state news agency WAM.
Multiple media outlets have named the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Speaking to the Associated Press, a Gulf diplomat said investigations were under way to establish whether he acted as a “lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups”.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the co-pilot had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views. He was then moved to an administrative job at Oman Air, according to the official, before being hired by the UAE-based budget airline flydubai.
It was not immediately clear to what extent he was vetted when he was hired.
Flydubai said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation and it was not in a position to comment further, a spokesperson said on Saturday.
The airline’s flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv have been suspended until further notice following the attack.
A former flydubai crew member told the Wall Street Journal that all its pilots are subject to security screening before flights, as well as medical checks at least once a year.
How the co-pilot managed to be working in the cockpit on Wednesday morning is a central question for investigators. It also raises serious concerns about background checks in aviation recruitment. Israel says it has agreements with foreign carriers to keep pilots out of its airspace who come from nations with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations. Israel and Oman do not have formal diplomatic relations.
Security agencies from four regional countries were working to establish the co-pilot’s motives, aided by the US and other western governments, an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the investigation.
On Friday, Anwar Gargash, a senior adviser to the UAE president, called the attack a “dangerous terrorist act”. The incident is a test for the UAE government, which has earned a reputation for effective measures against extremist activities but has also bristled in the past over criticism of security lapses.
Little else was immediately known about the co-pilot’s background. His Instagram account was active until the day of the flight and then deleted.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Friday that the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radicalisation” but provided no evidence. He added that Israel was looking into whether the co-pilot had acted under anyone’s direction and warned that anyone involved would pay a “heavy price”.
Most of the passengers on board were Israeli nationals.
The Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who had multiple stab wounds, has been praised for his bravery. He said he used his remaining energy while being stabbed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing people who had noticed loud noises to come in, tackle the co-pilot and stabilise the plane.
In a video call with the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, Machchhar said: “I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside.”
“Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he added.
After passengers restrained the attacker, two reserve pilots, who were onboard, safely landed the plane at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia at 06.58 local time. The captain and co-pilot were taken to the UAE, as it leads the investigation. Officials have said a number of countries including Israel are participating.
With Associated Press and Reuters
