Two Maldivian flydubai Pilots Detained in UAE Over Alleged Terror Plot
UAE authorities have arrested two Maldivian flydubai pilots linked to a September 30 mid-air attack on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Indian captain Smit Machchhar was injured foiling the alleged hijack attempt.
Maldivian pilots held as UAE widens flydubai terror investigation
Two Maldivian pilots employed by flydubai were taken into custody on October 3 by UAE police, as authorities broadened their investigation into a suspected terrorist attack aboard flight FZ1073, tribuneindia.com reports.
The Maldivian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates has formally notified the families of the two detained pilots, according to Maldivian news portal Adhadhu. Maldivian authorities have declined to comment on the detentions, and UAE officials have so far released no details regarding the allegations against the men or the current status of the investigation.
The arrests are connected to the September 30 incident involving flydubai co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national accused of attacking the flight's Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an axe in an alleged attempt to seize control of the aircraft and carry out a "terrorist attack".
According to Mihaaru, a Malé-based newspaper, the two detained pilots are believed to have had workplace contact with al-Hammami and lived in the same building. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the nature of any alleged links between the men and the incident, nor disclosed what evidence underpins their detention.
The two are among six Maldivian nationals working as pilots for flydubai and are reportedly the airline's most recent recruits from the Maldives, according to news portal edition.mv.
Flight FZ1073: what happened on board
Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 passengers and crew members on a route from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the alleged attack took place. Al-Hammami reportedly stabbed Captain Machchhar during the flight in an attempt to hijack and crash the plane. Though seriously injured, Machchhar resisted his attacker and unlocked the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to enter, overpower the co-pilot, and help stabilise the aircraft.
The plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE has officially described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. Authorities have also stated that al-Hammami was suspected of holding extremist ideologies and that Omani authorities had previously barred him from obtaining a pilot's licence. An investigation is underway into how al-Hammami was recruited by flydubai despite that reported restriction, as well as the motive behind the alleged plot.
The UAE Attorney General has confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is being conducted in coordination with regional security agencies to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine whether al-Hammami had links to other individuals or groups.
Indian and Maldivian responses
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) last week registered a case to probe the broader conspiracy behind the mid-air assault on Machchhar. The case was filed under the Anti-Hijacking Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
India's Ministry of External Affairs earlier stated that Machchhar was responding well to treatment following an operation at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. The Indian Embassy in the UAE is in regular contact with Machchhar's family, hospital officials, and local authorities to monitor his condition.
Source: Google News AE