Two Maldivian pilots employed by flydubai have reportedly been detained in the United Arab Emirates as investigators widen their inquiry into an alleged attempt to hijack a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on September 30. The case follows an alleged cockpit attack by an Omani co-pilot on Indian Captain Smit Machchhar aboard flight FZ1073.
The two pilots were reportedly taken into custody on October 3, according to media reports cited by the Press Trust of India (PTI). Their families were subsequently informed of the detentions by the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE.
Reports from Maldivian media outlets Adhadhu and Mihaaru indicate that investigators are examining the pilots’ possible connections to Hammam al-Hammami, the 29-year-old Omani national accused of attacking Machchhar. However, UAE authorities have not publicly detailed the allegations against the detained men or disclosed evidence establishing their involvement in the suspected plot.
Their detention does not establish guilt, and the investigation’s findings remain pending.
Why Have the Two Maldivian Pilots Been Detained?
According to Mihaaru, the two pilots reportedly knew al-Hammami through their employment and lived in the same residential building. Investigators are believed to be examining these connections as part of a broader effort to establish whether the alleged attack was carried out independently or involved other people.
The reports do not establish whether the pilots’ interactions with al-Hammami went beyond ordinary professional or residential contact. Nor have authorities publicly explained what specific evidence led to their detention.
The two men are reportedly among six Maldivian nationals employed as pilots by flydubai and were the airline’s most recent recruits from the Maldives, according to local media coverage.
Maldivian officials have not publicly commented on the case. UAE authorities have also not released a detailed account of the allegations against the two pilots.
The central question for investigators is whether the suspected cockpit attack involved a wider network or was the act of a single individual. Establishing any connection would require evidence beyond employment links, shared accommodation or routine professional contact.
What Happened Aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073?
The investigation stems from an incident on September 30 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers and crew members on board, according to the supplied report.
UAE authorities have identified al-Hammami as the co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an alleged attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
The UAE Attorney General described the incident as an attempted terrorist act and said investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding the attack, including possible connections to other individuals or groups.
Machchhar was seriously injured but reportedly resisted the assault. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene and help restrain the alleged attacker.
The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
The incident raised serious questions about cockpit security, crew safety and the procedures designed to prevent unauthorised attempts to take control of a commercial aircraft. However, the full sequence of events and the evidence underpinning the allegations must be established through the ongoing investigation.
Questions Surround the Accused Co-Pilot’s Background
UAE authorities have reportedly said that al-Hammami was suspected of supporting extremist ideologies and had previously been barred by Omani authorities from obtaining a pilot’s licence.
The circumstances surrounding that reported restriction have become a significant part of the wider inquiry. Investigators may need to establish the reasons for the restriction, what information was available to relevant parties and how al-Hammami subsequently came to work for flydubai.
The available reporting does not provide a complete account of his employment history or the checks conducted before he joined the airline. It would therefore be premature to draw conclusions about whether any recruitment or screening procedures failed.
Investigators are also examining whether al-Hammami had connections with other individuals or groups that could help explain the alleged attack. The reported detention of the two Maldivian pilots appears to form part of this broader line of inquiry, although authorities have not publicly confirmed the precise basis for their arrest.
India’s NIA Opens Probe Into Possible Wider Conspiracy
The case has also drawn the attention of Indian investigators. India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case to investigate the alleged hijacking attempt and determine whether a broader conspiracy was involved.
According to reports published on October 10, the case was registered under the Anti-Hijacking Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The NIA’s involvement adds another layer to an investigation spanning multiple countries. Authorities are seeking to establish the sequence of events, assess the alleged attacker’s possible motives and determine whether anyone else contributed to or had prior knowledge of the incident.
The UAE Attorney General has said a comprehensive investigation is underway in coordination with regional security agencies. The inquiry is expected to examine potential links with other individuals or groups, although no wider network has been publicly established in the supplied reporting.
Any findings regarding the detained pilots or other potential suspects will depend on the evidence gathered by investigators.
Captain Smit Machchhar Recovering After Surgery
Machchhar’s condition has also remained a focus of attention following the alleged cockpit assault.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said the captain was responding well to treatment after undergoing an operation at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has reportedly maintained contact with Machchhar’s family, medical team, hospital officials and local authorities to monitor his recovery.
His reported resistance during the incident was a critical part of the sequence that allowed others to intervene. Nevertheless, investigators will need to establish the precise circumstances of the confrontation and the actions taken by those aboard the aircraft.
What Happens Next in the FZ1073 Investigation?
The investigation now centres on several unresolved questions: why al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain, whether he acted alone, what evidence prompted the detention of the two Maldivian pilots and whether any wider conspiracy existed.
Authorities will also need to clarify the background surrounding the accused co-pilot’s reported licensing restriction and subsequent employment.
For now, the reported detentions represent a development in the investigation, not proof that the two pilots participated in the alleged plot. Until authorities release further evidence or formal findings, their alleged connections to al-Hammami should be treated as investigative leads rather than established facts.
The case remains under investigation, with UAE and Indian authorities examining different aspects of the suspected hijacking attempt.
