Russia condemns attempted terror attack on Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
In short
Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned what the UAE prosecutor general's office has classified as an attempted terrorist act aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September. According to Kommersant, the second pilot, Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, attacked the captain and tried to take control of the aircraft before the captain and passengers subdued him; the plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The ministry called for an objective investigation and said the tragedy was prevented thanks to the first pilot and passengers.
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Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the attempted terror attack aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September, saying Moscow had taken note of a 3 October statement by the UAE prosecutor general's office that classified the incident as an attempted terrorist act. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
“The Russian side resolutely condemns the crime committed by a crew member and expects a further objective investigation,” the ministry said, according to Interfax. “In Moscow they note with satisfaction that thanks to the courage of the first pilot and the passengers of the airliner the tragedy was prevented.” [ 3 , 4 ]
The emergency arose on the afternoon of Wednesday 30 September, when the aircraft, flying from Dubai to Israel, signalled an emergency in Jordanian airspace, including a possible hijacking attempt, Interfax reported. One of the pilots wounded a colleague with a knife as he tried to take control of the plane, the agency said. The attacker was subdued by the captain and passengers, and reserve pilots on board took control, stabilised the aircraft and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, according to Kommersant. [ 3 , 4 ]
Kommersant, citing the UAE authorities, named the suspect as second pilot Hamam al-Hammami. It said he attacked the captain, tried to seize control and, presumably, sought to provoke a crash, was neutralised and detained after landing, and told interrogators he had intended to direct the plane to Ben Gurion airport in Israel. The newspaper reported that he holds Omani citizenship and had worked at Flydubai for less than a year, having been dismissed from a previous employer over extremist views. [ 4 ]
Kommersant said the incident exposed serious gaps in security, particularly in the screening of crews on flights to Israel. Security rules on the Israeli route formally barred citizens of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from piloting the aircraft, it reported, yet crew lists showing the second pilot's citizenship did not raise alarm among regulators and security services. [ 4 ]
The documents do not describe any charges against the suspect or the state of the investigation beyond the Russian ministry's call for it to be objective. Interfax and Kommersant differ in their description of the in-flight emergency, with Interfax referring to a possible hijacking attempt and Kommersant to an attempt to take control and possibly cause a crash. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The case involves a flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv and has produced both a formal Russian condemnation and a UAE terrorism classification, so it will be watched beyond the airline itself. Kommersant's account of gaps in vetting crews on routes to Israel points to questions for regulators and security services. The investigation and any legal steps against the suspect remain open.
Key facts
- Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the attempted terror attack on board the Flydubai aircraft and said it expects an objective investigation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The UAE prosecutor general's office classified the 30 September incident on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight as an attempted terrorist act. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- One of the pilots attacked a colleague with a knife when he tried to take control of the aircraft; the attacker was subdued by the captain and passengers. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia; Kommersant reported the landing was in Tabuk. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Kommersant named the suspect as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani citizen who had worked at Flydubai for less than a year and was dismissed from a previous employer over extremist views. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant reported that during questioning the suspect said he intended to direct the plane to Ben Gurion airport in Israel. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant said the incident exposed serious gaps in security checks on crews for flights to Israel. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and said it expected an objective investigation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The UAE prosecutor general's office classified the incident as an attempted terrorist act. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The flight was Flydubai's 30 September service from Dubai to Tel Aviv. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The plane landed in Saudi Arabia after the attacker was subdued. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The suspect's name, Omani citizenship, employment history and stated intent to fly to Ben Gurion airport are reported only by Kommersant. Single-source detail: the other documents do not name the suspect or describe his background.
- The documents do not say whether the attacker has been charged or what his legal status is beyond being detained and questioned after landing. No document describes charges or court proceedings.
- The accounts of the in-flight emergency differ in wording: Interfax describes a signal including a possible hijacking attempt, while Kommersant describes an attack on the captain and an attempt to take control and, presumably, provoke a crash. The documents give different descriptions of the attacker's intent, and no document states that the investigation is complete.
- Kommersant's report that crew lists showing the second pilot's citizenship did not raise alarm among regulators and security services is not corroborated by other outlets. Single-source claim about security screening failures.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports that Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the attempted terror attack on board the FlyDubai aircraft. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports the ministry's condemnation, noting the UAE prosecutor general's office classified the incident as an attempted terror attack. [ 2 ]
- Interfax publishes the ministry's statement and details of the 30 September incident: an emergency signal over Jordan, a pilot wounding a colleague with a knife, and a landing in Saudi Arabia. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reports the ministry's statement and adds the suspect's name, his Omani citizenship, his employment history and reported gaps in crew screening. [ 4 ]