What happened
Israeli authorities received a list of passengers and crew members on a Flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates before a hijacking attempt occurred. The list, provided by authorities in the UAE, included the nationalities of those on board. However, Israel did not raise any concerns.
The incident involved an Omani co-pilot, Hamam al Hammami, who allegedly attacked the Indian pilot with an axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane lost altitude before the pilot and other crew members overpowered al Hammami, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Al Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman due to concerns about his extremist views. He was later hired by Flydubai after undergoing standard security checks. The incident has raised questions about security failures and how al Hammami escaped scrutiny.
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the UAE, with the goal of uncovering the suspect's identity, motive, and how a weapon entered the cockpit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also ordered a review of security procedures involving foreign civilian flights to Israel.
