Full Breakdown
Flydubai Flight Hijacking Attempt Raises Aviation-Security Concerns
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The Incident on September 30, 2026
On September 30, 2026 a Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit’s emergency axe. The assault caused the aircraft to plunge more than 14,000 feet in under a minute. Despite stab wounds, Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers and two off-duty pilots to subdue al-Hammami and regain control. The plane landed safely; the captain remained stable, while two crew members were hospitalized.
Background and Pilot History
Al-Hammami previously worked for Oman Air. In 2024 he was barred from flying after surveillance detected visits to extremist websites and flagged “radical ideological views.” He was moved to an administrative role and later resigned. Flydubai hired him without a background check with the Omani government, according to sources.
Flight Details and Casualties
- Passengers and crew: Reports list 174, 182, and “about 170” people on board. No passenger suffered serious injury.
- Injuries: Captain Machchhar sustained deep stab wounds; two crew members required hospitalization.
Official Responses
- UAE: Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi called the act a “terrorist attack” and said investigations were underway.
- Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker “underwent Islamist radicalization” and that investigators were probing whether al-Hammami acted alone.
- Israeli security office: Spokesperson Doron Spielman emphasized that “every pilot that is going to be flying into Israel, we are going to know the pilots’ identities, know who they are, and do some type of security check.”
- Flydubai: Declined comment beyond acknowledging “many questions at this stage.”
On-the-Ground Accounts
Passengers and two reserve pilots intervened after the cockpit door was opened. An Israeli dentist provided emergency care to an injured Indian pilot, while an Israeli plumber helped stabilize the aircraft during the dive.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Passenger count: Sources differ, citing 174, 182, and roughly 170 occupants.
- Nationality: A Jerusalem Post source confirmed al-Hammami held “no other nationality.”
- Omani involvement: Oman Air and the Omani government have not confirmed the pilot’s status or whether the radical-view concerns were shared with other airlines.
- Extremist links: A Gulf diplomat said investigators are assessing whether al-Hammami acted as a “lone wolf” or had connections to militant groups; no evidence of foreign direction has been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer; the attacker underwent Islamist radicalization. He came to crash the plane with its passengers,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
- “Every pilot that is going to be flying into Israel, we are going to know the pilots’ identities, know who they are, and do some type of security check,” — Doron Spielman
What’s Next
Al-Hammami remains in UAE custody while investigators from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Saudi Arabia continue their inquiry. Israeli officials have asked the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to convene an urgent hearing on aviation-security procedures. Flydubai has suspended all flights to Israel at the request of authorities, and the airline’s future operations on the route remain pending.