World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
UAE detains two Maldivian pilots in probe into alleged flydubai plot
UAE police detained two Maldivian flydubai pilots on October 3 as part of an investigation into an alleged plot involving one of the airline’s flights.
The two are believed to have interacted with the accused co-pilot and lived in the same building, but authorities have not described their alleged links or released evidence against them.
On September 30, a flydubai flight carrying 174 people was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when Omani co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar.
Machchhar resisted the attack, and crew members and passengers helped overpower the co-pilot before the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE has described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and is investigating the accused co-pilot’s recruitment and whether others were involved.
India’s National Investigation Agency has also opened a case into a possible wider conspiracy.
The UAE investigation is continuing, and officials have not publicly disclosed the evidence or the status of the case against the two detained pilots.
UAE police detained two Maldivian flydubai pilots on October 3 as part of an investigation into an alleged attempt to hijack and crash a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.
The investigation centres on co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami, accused of attacking Indian captain Smit Machchhar during the September 30 flight.
Machchhar was seriously injured but resisted the attack, and crew members and passengers helped overpower the co-pilot.
The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
UAE authorities have not released details of the allegations against the detained pilots or evidence of their possible links to the incident.
- Who
- Two Maldivian pilots employed by flydubai were detained. The alleged attacker was co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami.
- What
- The pilots were detained in an investigation into an alleged plot to hijack and crash a flight. Their possible involvement has not been officially detailed.
- When
- The pilots were taken into custody on October 3. The alleged attack took place on September 30.
- Where
- The pilots were detained in the United Arab Emirates. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and landed at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- UAE authorities are investigating possible links between the detained pilots and the alleged plot.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An alleged attack took place aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 during its journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after crew members and passengers overpowered the co-pilot.
UAE police took two Maldivian flydubai pilots into custody.
- Detained pilots
- Two Maldivian flydubai pilots
- Detention date
- October 3
- Flight
- FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Passengers and crew
- 174
- Emergency landing
- Tabuk airport, Saudi Arabia
- Alleged attacker
- Hammam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot
What people are saying
terrorist attack
Sources
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