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FlyDubai Co-Pilot Attacks Captain Mid-Flight; Identified as Omani National Flagged for Extremism

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 17 outlets across the spectrum.

24 articles in total, 2 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

A FlyDubai co-pilot attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe during Flight FZ1073, which made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a sharp descent, according to multiple reports. Passengers helped overpower the co-pilot after the captain opened the cockpit door, officials said. The co-pilot was identified as an Omani national, reportedly named Hamam al-Hammami, who had previously been barred from flying for Oman's airline over concerns about extremist views. The UAE's prosecutor general described the attack as a terrorist act. Al Qaeda reportedly praised the attack and called for similar acts against Americans on planes. Israeli officials have reportedly traded blame over how the co-pilot's background went undetected, and questions have emerged about FlyDubai's vetting process and the incident's details.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. A FlyDubai co-pilot attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe during the flight.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a sharp descent.

    Reported byLeft

  3. Passengers overpowered the co-pilot after the captain opened the cockpit door.

    Reported byLeft

  4. The co-pilot, an Omani national, had previously been flagged or barred over extremist views.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. The co-pilot had worked for Oman Air and Air Maroc and was let go after radical material was found on his phone, according to sources.

    Reported byRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. Al Qaeda reportedly praised the attack and called for copycat attacks against Americans on planes.

    Reported byRight

  2. Israeli authorities reportedly traded blame over failing to flag the co-pilot despite strict security protocols.

    Reported byLeft

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Whether the attack should be characterized as a terrorist act with a confirmed ideological motive.

    The UAE's prosecutor general and several right-leaning outlets describe it as a terrorist act tied to extremism; Al Jazeera notes the motive is still under investigation and some details are being questioned by online commentators and aviation enthusiasts.

  • How the co-pilot's background went undetected before the flight.

    The New York Times reports Israeli authorities trading blame for the failure to flag him; the AP report (published by The Washington Times and PBS) raises questions about FlyDubai's vetting process without assigning blame to a specific party.

  • The co-pilot's prior employment and reasons for dismissal.

    The New York Post reports, citing unnamed sources, that he worked for Oman Air and Air Maroc and was dismissed after radical material was found on his phone; other outlets do not mention this detail.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    6 outlets

    The New York Times frames the story around institutional failure and finger-pointing among Israeli authorities, while Al Jazeera's headline poses open questions about inconsistencies in official accounts.

    Israel was prepared to shoot down FlyDubai plane, sources say
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    4 outlets

    The PBS NewsHour's wire report headline closely follows the AP original, emphasizing new details about the co-pilot's extremism flags and raising questions about FlyDubai's vetting and Israeli security.

    Australia, New Zealand probe Flydubai pilot's time there
    Deutsche WelleCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    7 outlets · 1 opinion

    Mainstream right outlets like The Washington Times (via AP) and New York Post emphasize the co-pilot's extremist background and Al Qaeda's reaction, while far-right opinion outlets PJ Media and RedState go further, labeling the incident a terrorist hijacking and speculating about a 9/11 connection.

    FlyDubai Hijacker Wanted to Crash Into Tel Aviv Airport to Maximize Casualties
    PJ MediaFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left1

    raising questions

  • Center1

    questions remain

  • Right5

    finally releasedOmani terroristPossible 9/11 Tiebig questions

In the outlets’ own words

  • Vague attribution

    raising questionsMore neutral: state the question and who is asking

    The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.

    …been barred from flying over concerns about alleged “extremist” views, raising questions about how he was allowed to fly to Tel Aviv.

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)ABC News (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    finally releasedMore neutral: released

    Implies unwarranted delay or reluctance by authorities without evidence of wrongdoing.

    Authorities have finally released the name of the Omani terrorist who unsuccessfully tried to hijack and crash a…

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Omani terroristMore neutral: the Omani co-pilot accused of the attack

    Labels the suspect a terrorist before any legal determination, going beyond the established facts.

    Authorities have finally released the name of the Omani terrorist who unsuccessfully tried to hijack and crash a plane full of Israelis this week.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Vague attribution

    Possible 9/11 TieMore neutral: reports of possible extremist imagery on his social media

    Presents an unverified claim about a 9/11 connection as a headline-worthy fact without clear sourcing.

    Identity of FlyDubai Hijacker Revealed, Possible 9/11 Tie

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

Show 3 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Vague attribution

    big questionsMore neutral: unanswered questions

    Vaguely implies unresolved wrongdoing without specifying who is raising the questions.

    We keep getting more information that raises big questions in the FlyDubai attempted hijacking, and why the Omani co-pilot accused in the…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    vile postMore neutral: a post

    Applies the outlet's own moral judgment to the Al Qaeda statement rather than describing it neutrally.

    Al Qaeda publicly called for Americans on airplanes to be targeted in a vile post that referenced the 9/11 terror attacks while praising the Dubai flight hijacker —…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Vague attribution

    questions remainMore neutral: state the question and who is asking

    The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.

    Investigators say they believe the co-pilot acted alone, but new questions remain regarding how he was able to pilot the flight.

    Used byStraight Arrow News (Center)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets

Leads with

  • blame between Israeli agencies
  • unresolved questions about the official narrative
  • scrutiny of security protocols

Leaves out

  • Al Qaeda's praise of the attack
  • details of the co-pilot's prior employment history

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

4 outlets

Leads with

  • vetting failures
  • extremism warning signs
  • security protocol questions

Leaves out

  • Al Qaeda's statements
  • Israeli officials blaming each other directly

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Deutsche WelleCenter

    Australia, New Zealand probe Flydubai pilot's time there

    The Flydubai pilot from Oman suspected of trying to crash a plane in Israel spent time in Oceania as a young man. Police in both Australia and New Zealand said they would investigate his links to the countries.

    Read at Deutsche Welle (opens in a new tab)
  • BBC NewsCenter

    Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say

    The Omani national was a "lone wolf" extremist, according to the reports.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • Straight Arrow NewsCenter

    FlyDubai co-pilot was reportedly flagged before attack. So how was he cleared to fly?

    Investigators say they believe the co-pilot acted alone, but new Vague attribution“questions remain”The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.More neutral: state the question and who is askingDisagree with this highlight? regarding how he was able to pilot the flight.

    Read at Straight Arrow News (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    AP report: Axe-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over extremism concerns

    The new details raised questions about how thoroughly FlyDubai vets potential employees, and how the co-pilot's presence on a flight filled with Israeli passengers got past Israel's strict security protocols.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

7 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • extremist ties and radicalization
  • terrorism and hijacking framing
  • Al Qaeda's praise and call for copycat attacks

Leaves out

  • Israeli officials' internal blame-trading
  • questions raised about inconsistencies in the official account

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 8 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    20 hr 30 min later

    Its first report, Oct 4, 7:34 AM EDT

  • Center

    11 min later

    Its first report, Oct 3, 11:15 AM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    The Washington Times, Oct 3, 11:04 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Washington TimesRightOct 3, 11:04 AM EDT
  2. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 3, 11:15 AM EDT
  3. New York PostRightOct 3, 5:11 PM EDT
  4. The New York TimesLeftOct 4, 7:34 AM EDT
  5. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 4, 9:11 AM EDT
  6. PJ MediaFar RightOct 4, 3:03 PM EDT
  7. The Daily WireFar RightOct 5, 4:33 AM EDT
  8. CBN NewsFar RightOct 5, 5:21 AM EDT
  9. Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 5, 6:52 AM EDT
  10. NPRLeftOct 5, 6:53 AM EDT
  11. BBC NewsCenterOct 5, 7:34 AM EDT
  12. Fox NewsFar RightOct 5, 8:06 AM EDT
  13. BloombergLeftOct 5, 8:44 AM EDT
  14. ABC NewsLeftOct 5, 9:02 AM EDT
  15. CBS NewsLeftOct 5, 9:35 AM EDT
  16. Hot AirFar RightOct 5, 10:40 AM EDT
  17. Deutsche WelleCenterOct 5, 11:02 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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