Flydubai hijack attempt probe widens as investigators trace alleged extremist links in Australia
Investigators in the United Arab Emirates say the co-pilot accused of trying to seize a Flydubai passenger flight began showing signs of a drift towards extremism and terrorism while studying in Australia nearly 10 years ago. Authorities allege the man was trying to take control of the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in a suicide attack. The case remains focused on a flight carrying more than 170 passengers that was travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel.According to the latest official account, the Australian Federal Police is now examining the suspect's time in... [Continue Reading]
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New Zealand probes alleged flydubai hijacker's flight training history
New Zealand police have opened an investigation into the background of the flydubai co-pilot accused of trying to hijack an Israel-bound flight, after confirming he spent 175 days in the country for flight training. The move adds a new country to the widening international inquiry into Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, following the alleged mid-air attack on 30 September. The flight was carrying 182 people when passengers and crew intervened to stop the incident.Police assistant commissioner Michael Johnson said the man was in New Zealand on a student visa from 30 November 2018 to 23 May 2019. He said police... [Continue Reading]
UAE says FlyDubai copilot tried to seize control of flight to Tel Aviv
The United Arab Emirates says it is investigating a serious incident on a FlyDubai passenger flight that was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to officials, the copilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The plane was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the incident took place on Wednesday.Officials said passengers and crew managed to restrain the copilot before the situation escalated further. A reserve pilot who was on board then took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in north-west Saudi Arabia, where the copilot... [Continue Reading]
FlyDubai co-pilot allegedly planned to crash aircraft into Tel Aviv airport, reports say
The co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight is now reported to have planned to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport, according to multiple reports citing people close to the investigation. In the first public comments from Emirati investigators, UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the co-pilot of flight FZ1073 "attempted to carry out a terrorist attack" when he attacked the captain with an axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The flight was bound for Israel and carried more than 180 passengers, according to the supplied material.The reports say the suspect, identified by multiple sources as... [Continue Reading]
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Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot links as probe widens after in-flight attack
Australian authorities are investigating the links to the country of a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain with a crash axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia after passengers managed to overpower the co-pilot and regain control of the plane. The UAE prosecutor is also investigating the incident and any possible motives.The Australian Federal Police said it is examining the man's links to Australia, with state police and the country's security agency involved. Sources familiar with the case have said the co-pilot was issued a student visa in 2014 and... [Continue Reading]

