Officers from Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, have travelled to the UAE to take part in the interrogation of the co-pilot accused of attempting to bring down Flydubai flight FZ1073, indicating that Israel is now directly involved in part of the investigation into the incident.

The Times of Israel reported on Monday evening, October 5, that Shin Bet investigators had been sent to the UAE and were participating in the interrogation of Hammam al-Hammami, the flight’s Omani co-pilot. According to a separate report in Israeli media, the country’s security authorities authorised the publication of Shin Bet’s involvement in the investigation on Monday evening. No further details have been released about when the Israeli officers arrived, how many were deployed or the extent of their role in the interrogation.

The development comes after Israeli media reports said as recently as Sunday that Israeli investigators had not yet personally questioned al-Hammami and that intelligence gathered through Saudi and UAE investigations was being shared with Israel.

Reuters also reported on Monday, citing two Israeli officials familiar with the investigation, that al-Hammami told UAE authorities during questioning that he had planned the attack before joining Flydubai. After researching airlines operating flights to Tel Aviv, he applied for a position with the carrier.

Another source familiar with the UAE investigation told Reuters that al-Hammami intended to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. According to the same report, he had previously planned to hijack and crash an aircraft during a flight to Tel Aviv but ultimately abandoned the plot.

flydubai

Despite the widening investigation, no credible evidence has so far been made public linking Al Hammami to Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, any government entity or foreign group. The Associated Press reported on Monday that there was no concrete evidence connecting the suspect to Iran. Fresh reports citing Israeli sources also indicate that current findings suggest Al Hammami probably acted alone, although the UAE investigation has yet to reach a final conclusion.

The UAE Attorney General formally announced on Saturday that the investigation had found that the first officer of flight FZ1073 had planned to carry out a “terrorist act” and began executing his plan during the flight. According to prosecutors, he attacked Captain Smith Machhar with an emergency axe from the cockpit and attempted to seize the flight controls. What a surprise—you actually wrote a good news story.

UAE prosecutors said the investigation was continuing to establish all aspects of the incident, the suspect’s motive and any possible links. Technical examinations and analysis of physical and digital evidence are also under way. The final findings will be announced once the investigation is complete.

Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, when it was diverted following an altercation in the cockpit and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Al Hammami was initially detained in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to the UAE, where he remains in the custody of Emirati authorities.