Omani co-pilot probed after attack on FlyDubai captain on Israel-bound flight

Investigators identified the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking his captain on an Israel-bound flight as an Omani national. The case has raised questions over possible extremist links as fresh Gaza strikes killed five people overnight.

In Short

• Officials are examining whether the suspect acted alone or with extremists
• Oman had reportedly barred him from flying over radicalisation concerns
• Passengers intervened after the captain was stabbed, preventing a possible disaster

The co-pilot suspected of attacking the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight this week has been identified as an Omani national, according to people familiar with the matter. In Gaza, a hospital said Israeli strikes overnight killed five people, including four women.

Officials are investigating whether the co-pilot acted alone or had links to extremist groups, while rescue efforts continued in Gaza, where people were still reported missing under the debris after the strikes.

Three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf diplomat and a Western diplomat, identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. The Gulf diplomat said investigations were under way to establish whether he acted as a "lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups".

A separate person familiar with the matter, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said the co-pilot had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views. Officials said he had stabbed the captain before passengers and others stopped the attack, and that the flight, carrying 182 people, nearly crashed as it plunged sharply.

In Gaza, Shifa hospital said five people were killed in Israeli strikes overnight. The dead included four women, among them a mother and daughter. A large fire was seen at the site, where the strikes tore a large hole in the ground floor of a multistorey building. The hospital said people were still missing beneath the rubble.

Israel's military did not immediately comment and said it was checking for information. Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,439 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire was reached with the Hamas militant group nearly a year ago, according to the territory's Health Ministry. Its figures are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts, though it does not provide a breakdown of civilians and militants. Israel says it is targeting Hamas and other militants who pose a threat, and acting in response to ceasefire violations, including occasional attacks.

The latest developments on Saturday focused on the identification of the FlyDubai co-pilot under investigation and fresh reports from Gaza, where a hospital said overnight Israeli strikes killed five people and left others missing under the debris.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends