Story perspectives

UAE labels Dubai–Tel Aviv attack attempted terror, halts flights

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 9:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Co-pilot Attempts Crash

Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, attempting to crash the aircraft.
Injured captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and two off-duty pilots to subdue the attacker.
The Boeing 737 dropped about 17,000 feet in one minute, then stabilised and landed safely at Tabuk Airport.
UAE prosecutor-general Hamad al-Shamsi called it an attempted terrorist attack, prompting Flydubai to halt Tel Aviv flights pending investigation.

Summary

Saudi Detains Co-pilot

Israeli air defense scrambled fighter jets over the desert after a mid-air stabbing was reported.
Saudi authorities detained the Omani co-pilot in Tabuk and began a formal interrogation on motive.
The aircraft transmitted squawk 7700 then switched to squawk 7500, indicating emergency and hijack alerts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu coordinated with Saudi and UAE officials to assess the security breach.

History

Historical Context

On 3 July 1976 Israel launched Operation Entebbe, flying about 100 commandos to Uganda to rescue 248 Air France passengers; the raid killed all seven hijackers, 45 Ugandan soldiers and commander Yonatan Netanyahu. The mission’s success reshaped global counter-terrorism and spurred regional security ties, a framework that underpins joint responses to later aircraft attacks.

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Co-pilot Attempts Crash

Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, attempting to crash the aircraft.
Injured captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and two off-duty pilots to subdue the attacker.
The Boeing 737 dropped about 17,000 feet in one minute, then stabilised and landed safely at Tabuk Airport.
UAE prosecutor-general Hamad al-Shamsi called it an attempted terrorist attack, prompting Flydubai to halt Tel Aviv flights pending investigation.

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