English
English
English
The investigation into the alleged attempted hijacking of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flydubai flight has widened, with two Maldivian pilots reportedly detained in the UAE. The case follows an alleged mid-air attack on Indian captain Smit Machchhar on September 30. (Images: X)
Dubai/Male: Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reportedly detained two Maldivian pilots employed by Flydubai as part of an expanding investigation into an alleged attempt to hijack a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight and crash the aircraft. As per the Maldivian news portal Adhadhu, the two men were taken into custody on October 3. Their families were subsequently informed of the detentions through the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE.
Neither UAE authorities nor Maldivian officials have publicly disclosed the specific allegations against the two pilots or confirmed the nature of their suspected involvement in the case. The investigation follows an alleged cockpit attack on September 30, during which Indian captain Smit Machchhar was reportedly injured while attempting to stop the suspected plot.
Reports in Maldivian media suggest that the detained pilots may have known Hammam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national employed as a flydubai co-pilot who is accused of attacking Machchhar. According to the Male-based newspaper Mihaaru, the men are believed to have interacted with al-Hammami professionally and lived in the same residential building.
However, investigators have not publicly established whether these reported connections played any role in the alleged attack. No official details have been released regarding the evidence against the two detained pilots. News portal Edition.mv reported that the men are among six Maldivian nationals working as pilots for flydubai and were the airline's most recently recruited pilots from the Maldives.
The incident occurred aboard flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 passengers and crew members from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. According to the allegations, al-Hammami attacked Machchhar with an axe in an attempt to seize control of the aircraft and carry out what authorities have described as a suspected terrorist attack.
Despite suffering serious injuries, the Indian captain reportedly resisted the assault and managed to unlock the cockpit door. Other crew members and passengers then helped overpower the accused and stabilise the situation. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
The incident has raised questions about cockpit security, airline recruitment procedures and the screening of aviation personnel.
UAE authorities have described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and said al-Hammami was suspected of supporting extremist ideologies. UAE has also stated that Omani authorities had previously prevented him from obtaining a pilot's licence. Investigators are examining the circumstances of his recruitment by Flydubai despite the reported restriction, along with the motive behind the alleged attack.
The UAE Attorney General has said a comprehensive investigation is being conducted in coordination with regional security agencies. Authorities are seeking to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine whether the accused had connections with other individuals or groups. The reported detention of the two Maldivian pilots forms part of this wider inquiry, although their alleged links have not been officially clarified.
India has also launched a probe into the alleged mid-air attack. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reportedly registered a case last week under the Anti-Hijacking Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to investigate the suspected larger conspiracy. The case brings Indian investigators into the effort to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack on Machchhar and determine whether the incident involved a broader network.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier said Machchhar was responding well to treatment following surgery at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. The Indian Embassy in UAE was also reported to be in regular contact with his family, medical teams, hospital officials and local authorities.
The case now involves investigations in both the UAE and India, with authorities examining the alleged cockpit attack, the suspect's background, aviation security procedures and possible wider connections.
For now, the specific allegations against the two detained Maldivian pilots remain undisclosed. Their detention does not establish their involvement in the alleged plot, and further official information is awaited as the investigation continues.
