Flydubai Co-Pilot who planned Israel crash could face death penalty: Report

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Dubai: The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a flydubai flight bound for Israel could face the death penalty, according to a report.

The one-time co-pilot identified as Hamam al-Hammami, is accused by investigators of intending to hijack Flight FZ1073 and crash it into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. The reports say he told Emirati investigators he planned the attack before he even joined flydubai.

This happened on September 30 when the co-pilot supposedly tried to assault captain Smit Machchhar, inflicting him multiple injuries, but despite the attack, he reportedly entered the cockpit and opened the door.

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The attacker was then beaten by passengers and a backup pilot before the Airbus A320 aircraft returned to an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

The UAE Attorney General has described the incident as an attempted terrorist act, while investigations into the suspect’s motives and possible connections remain ongoing.

There are no official announcements of a sentence as yet. The UAE has not officially announced any charges or a definitive punishment for the suspect and the case is still under investigation.

Also Read: Hero Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar suffers skull fracture, undergoes emergency surgery

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