UAE prosecutor says flydubai co-pilot attempted terrorist attack with axe

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The co-pilot of Israel-bound flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist attack” with an axe during the flight, the UAE prosecutor general said on Saturday. Passengers and crew subdued him on Wednesday after he attacked the captain, averting disaster aboard the aircraft carrying more than 170 passengers and crew.

Prosecutor outlines findings

“Investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack,” Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said in a statement carried by the UAE’s state news agency.

The co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, Al Shamsi said. A crash axe is typically kept in the cockpit for emergencies, including crashes.

Israeli officials described the incident as an apparent attempt to crash the plane. The prosecutor general’s statement was the first time Emirati investigators had described it as an attempted terrorist attack.

Sources identify co-pilot

A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the co-pilot was Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. A second source briefed on the investigation confirmed his name.

UAE authorities did not immediately respond to a request to confirm his identity. Neither Emirati authorities nor flydubai has publicly named the co-pilot, although Israeli officials previously said he was an Omani national. Oman has not commented on the incident.

Investigation continues

The UAE is leading the investigation, which includes examining the suspect’s motives. Al Shamsi said findings would be released once the “necessary procedures” had been completed.

Following the prosecutor general’s statement, Anwar Gargash, a senior adviser to the UAE president, said on X that the country had zero tolerance for terrorism and would show no leniency toward extremist rhetoric.

A flydubai spokesperson said on Saturday that the circumstances surrounding the incident remained under investigation and that the airline was not in a position to comment further. The airline is owned by Dubai’s government.