The co-pilot’s attack on the captain during a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was an attempted terrorist act, UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said, according to the WAM news agency.

The attacker was Hamam al-Hamami, an Omani citizen who lived in the UAE. An Israeli official confirmed the pilot’s identity. He was described as holding deeply religious views and displaying hatred and discriminatory attitudes towards women.

In 2024, Hamam al-Hamami worked at Oman Air as a trainee co-pilot but was removed from flying duties after extremist material was found in his possession. However, he was allowed to continue working in an administrative role.

After working at Oman Air, the suspect worked at Royal Air Maroc and joined Flydubai eight months ago. It is unclear why he was allowed to fly or how he came to serve as co-pilot on a flight bound for Israel.

The suspect is cooperating with the investigation and has said that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel.