Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, a former airline employee barred from flying in Oman, was identified as the co-pilot involved in an attempted terrorist attack on flydubai Flight FZ1073. The incident, which occurred during a flight from the UAE to Israel, resulted in the co-pilot attempting to take control of the aircraft and crash it, but was subdued by passengers and crew.
The attack took place on a flight carrying 174 passengers, including many Israeli nationals, as the aircraft plummeted over 5,000 metres in 30 seconds. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, was previously barred from flying in Oman due to concerns about extremist views, though no official confirmation of his beliefs has been made.
UAE authorities described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack, with investigations ongoing to determine the co-pilot's motives and any potential connections to extremist groups. Israeli officials have joined the investigation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that those involved would face severe consequences. The airline has not commented further on the matter.