Two additional pilots were arrested in the case of targeting Ben Gurion Airport... and investigations into their connection to the Omani accused

Abu Dhabi - Ofoq News - Israeli media reports reported the arrest of two pilots from the Maldives working for Fly Dubai, on October 3, against the backdrop of investigations related to the attempted attack that the Omani co-pilot, Humam Al Hamaimi, is accused of planning.

The Israeli newspaper Kiba reported that the families of the two pilots did not receive information about their whereabouts for several days, before the embassy later informed them that they were being held by the local police.

According to the report, the two pilots knew Al-Hamaimi, and published information indicates that the three were residing in the same building. It was also reported that the two Maldivian pilots participated in operating flights to Israel as part of their work for Flydubai.

The UAE authorities have not yet revealed the nature of the suspicions directed against the two pilots, or whether they are suspected of prior knowledge of Al-Hamaimi’s plan, or whether their detention came within the framework of investigations related to his personal and professional relationships.

These developments come after the UAE Public Prosecution announced that Al-Hamaimi admitted during the investigation that he planned to carry out the attack alone. However, the authorities continue to examine his connections and look into the possibility of other people who knew about his plan or participated in its preparation.

The case had sparked widespread interest due to suspicion that Al-Hamaimi planned to target Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, by taking control of a Flydubai passenger plane. According to published reports, the plane's pilot and other personnel were able to thwart the attempt, and the plane landed safely.

No evidence has yet been announced proving the involvement of the Maldivian pilots in planning the operation, nor have the charges against them or the final results of the investigations become clear. Therefore, their arrest cannot be considered evidence of their participation in the scheme.