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Flydubai co-pilot who 'attacked pilot with axe in suspected terrorist attack' pictured
- On Wednesday, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced an in-flight security breach when the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe, causing the aircraft to plunge roughly 16,000 feet over Saudi Arabia.
- The suspect, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, had been barred from flying in Oman over extremist concerns before relocating to Dubai, where Flydubai hired him without formal background vetting through the Omani government.
- Despite severe injuries, Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "I was acting for my own life, but at the same time, I knew I couldn't let all of them die." Passengers and crew subdued the attacker; reserve pilots landed safely at Tabuk with all 180 occupants.
- United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi announced Saturday that investigations found the co-pilot "attempted to carry out a terrorist attack," while UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash called it a "dangerous terrorist act" Friday.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Friday that anyone directing the attack would pay a "heavy price," claiming the co-pilot underwent "Islamist radicalization" without providing evidence; security agencies from multiple countries are investigating whether al-Hammami acted alone or had extremist affiliations.
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FlyDubai co-pilot used crash ax in ‘terrorist’ cockpit attack, Emirates says
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The co-pilot who stabbed the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight this past week used an emergency crash ax in an effort to take over the plane, an official in the United Arab Emirates said Saturday, describing the attack as a “terrorist operation.”
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HDR | Hickory Daily Record
HDR | Hickory Daily RecordOfficial: Co-pilot used ax to attack pilot
FLYDUBAI INVESTIGATION
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stated that the Flydubai airline co-pilot's action in attacking the pilot was an attempted terrorism.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources512
Leaning Left75Leaning Right74Center61Last UpdatedBias Distribution36% Left
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources lean Left
36% Left
L 36%
C 29%
R 35%
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