The hijacker of the Flydubai plane has been named for the first time.
Hammam Al-Hammami, an Omani national, attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, according to reports.
The co-pilot is said to have attacked the pilot with an axe as he attempted to take control of the aircraft, the United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general said this morning.
The tool used is understood to have been a crash axe, which is kept in the cockpit for use in emergency for escape or rescue.
The hijacker of the Flydubai plane has been named for the first time
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REUTERSInvestigations will remain ongoing to determine motives and examine evidence.
According to Saudi Arabian state media, Al-Hammami was banned from flying last year due to concerns over his radical ideological views.
CNN reports he was born in the UAE to Omani and Syrian parents. It is also said he has been working at Flydubai for eight months.
On Wednesday, September 30, Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 182 people on board, diverted over Jordanian airspace towards Saudi Arabia after suddenly plunging over 14,000ft in less than 30 seconds.
Passengers and crew, including an off-duty British pilot, managed to tie up and stop the alleged attacker, before stabilising and land the jet.
All passengers, including Al-Hammami, who is now in custody in Saudi Arabia, survived the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Daily Mail he was “amazed” by the bravery of the passengers on board.
“If it wasn’t for the extraordinary courage and resourcefulness of this Israeli passenger,” he said.
“The sewage plumber. He heard screams from the cockpit. He ran to the cockpit. The plane was already veering out of control. He was thrust to the side.”
READ MORE ON THE FLYDUBAI HIJACKING:
Benjamin Netanyahu told Yaniv Hayun, who helped thwart the attacker, he was a ‘hero’ | ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICEMr Netanyahu described how passengers allegedly opened the cockpit door, “grab the attacker and pull him away” before grabbing the controls of the plane to “prevent the continuous slide down”.
He also praised the “extraordinary teamwork” of the passengers, describing the incident as “so improbable that it almost sounds miraculous, and in fact, it is miraculous”.
The captain, Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, described the horrors of the flight earlier this week. He was allegedly stabbed by the hijacker, but was able to open the cockpit door to allow passengers to enter.
“I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” Capt Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar described the attack during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi | ANI“Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation].
“I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die.”
The Indian embassy in the UAE said yesterday that Capt Machchhar was “in good health and recovering well”.
Ambassador Deepak Mittal said he was “proud of Capt Smit for his bravery” and “very reassured” to meet him.
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