With the probe into flydubai mid-air cockpit attack progressing, the UAE has arrested two Maldivian pilots who were close to terror-accused Omani co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami.
The revelations comes days after flydubai said it fired "several employees" in connection with its internal investigation.
The two pilots were reportedly staying with al-Hammami in the same building and interacted at work, according to Male-based Mihaaru newspaper. They reportedly had close personal and professional ties to the Omani pilot. Reports claimed that they also shared flight shifts.
Four other Maldivians are also working at flydubai.
The flydubai attack occurred on September 30, the two Maldivians were arrested on October 3. Al-Hammami, 29, was initially arrested by Saudi authorities when the flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk airport. He was handed over to the UAE on October 2.
The Omani co-pilot hit Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, intending to crash the flight into a Ben Gurion airport. The attack occurred in Jordanian airspace and the Indian pilot managed to keep the cockpit door unlocked. This allowed the passengers and cabin crew to subdue the attacker and stabilise the flight.
When arrested, al-Hammami told the investigators that he acted entirely alone. His social media accounts showed images of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and other al-Qaeda terrorists as well as footage of Israeli military aircraft.
Whether he is actually a "lone wolf" or received support from the arrested Maldivian pilots in any manner is still not confirmed. Emirati authorities did not reveal the exact roles played by the arrested individuals.
Israel had suspended all flydubai services following the incident on September 30 and has declined the airline's request to resume flights.
