Tel Aviv, 05 October (H.S.): An initial Israeli investigation has revealed that the alleged attempt to hijack a Flydubai aircraft may have been a lone-wolf attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was told by passengers and the flight captain that, as the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel on Wednesday, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain with a knife and attempted to crash the aircraft.

According to reports by CBS News and Fox News, the captain fought with the co-pilot and managed to open the cockpit door. Israeli passengers and members of the Flydubai staff then overpowered the co-pilot. Two off-duty pilots who were on board took control of the aircraft and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The co-pilot is currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is being questioned by Israeli officials. Saudi authorities had also questioned him earlier. Israel has sent representatives to the UAE to participate in the investigation. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that, based on what I've heard, the co-pilot may have had links to Iran.

Trump said, We're working on that right now. They're being very open with us. I would say, based on what I've heard, the answer is yes.

Earlier, Netanyahu had said on Wednesday that the co-pilot's motive had not yet been determined. On Thursday, Netanyahu said Israel knew that the co-pilot had been influenced by an Islamic extremist ideology.

He said the attacker was suicidal and that when other crew members and passengers subdued him, he shouted, Kill me, kill me! The identity of the flight's co-pilot has not yet been officially made public, although several sources familiar with the investigation said on Friday that his name was Hammam Al-Hamami.

According to sources, Al-Hamami worked for Oman Air for some time, where he had begun training as a new pilot. Sources said that, under the supervision of the Omani government, it was discovered that he was visiting extremist websites. Oman Air subsequently assigned him to office duties. Al-Hamami later resigned. He left the airline around 2024.

Sources said that some time ago, Al-Hamami posted a video on social media showing El Al, the Israeli airline, aircraft in Dubai. At the end of the video was a photograph of Ayman al-Zawahiri, a senior al-Qaeda leader. Al-Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike in 2022. Sources said Flydubai hired Al-Hamami without conducting the investigation or background checks previously carried out by the Omani authorities.

Sources said Al-Hamami is an Omani citizen, although he was not born in Oman. He spent most of his life outside Oman. His mother is Syrian and his father is an Omani citizen. The Omani government has not publicly confirmed his citizenship. Sources say he may hold dual citizenship.

What is a 'Lone-Wolf' Attack?

A lone-wolf attack refers to an act of violence or terrorism carried out by an individual without direct support, financial assistance or a formal command structure from a terrorist organisation. The literal meaning of lone wolf is a solitary wolf. The term is based on the idea that, just as a wolf may separate from its pack and hunt alone, such an attacker independently develops and carries out an attack.

Although such attackers may not have direct contact with an organisation, they can be influenced or inspired by the extremist ideology and propaganda of larger extremist groups, including ISIS or white-supremacist organisations, found on the internet, social media or the dark web. Such individuals may independently plan the attack, select the target, obtain weapons themselves and carry out the operation alone.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar