UAE Arrests Maldivian Pilots in Omani Hijacking Probe
Maldivian pilots detained in UAE as investigation expands into suspected Israel-bound flight crash plot.
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Two Maldivian pilots employed by Flydubai have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as investigators probe a suspected terrorist plot involving an Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash an Israel-bound flight into Ben Gurion Airport.
Detentions and Background
The pilots were taken into police custody on October 3, according to the Maldivian news outlet Adhadhu. Their families were only notified of the detentions after several days, with the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE confirming the arrests. The UAE authorities have not disclosed the nature of the suspicions or charges against the pilots.
Co-Pilot Allegations
According to Adhadhu, the two pilots were among six Maldivian pilots working for Flydubai, and were the airline’s most recent recruits from the country. They had professional interactions with Hammam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to seize control of Flight FZ1073 on September 30. The pilots reportedly lived in the same residential building as al-Hammami, though it remains unclear if they had prior knowledge of the alleged attack.
Attack Details
The incident occurred on Flight FZ1073 as it traveled from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Al-Hammami allegedly attacked the Indian captain with an emergency axe in the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Despite his injuries, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. Reserve pilots aboard the plane ultimately helped regain control, and the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, carrying 174 people, most of them Israeli passengers.
Radicalization and Background
The attorney general stated that al-Hammami admitted to planning a suicide attack intended to cause the greatest possible loss of life. Investigators said he had been influenced by extremist material since 2017, while studying in Australia, and had drawn inspiration from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The UAE said he had prepared for the operation by studying the route and airport during two previous flights to Israel.
Broader Investigation
The investigation is now examining whether anyone else had knowledge of the alleged attack or helped prepare for it, despite al-Hammami’s reported claim that he acted alone. The inquiry has also expanded to include al-Hammami’s background in Australia and New Zealand, where his radicalization reportedly began while studying in Melbourne. He was said to have encountered individuals associated with the Muslim Brotherhood at an Islamic center known as My Centre.
Neither the Maldivian government nor UAE authorities have publicly explained the precise basis for the two pilots’ reported detentions, leaving many questions unanswered about the extent of their involvement, if any, in the alleged plot.
Source: Daily Wire
