Full Breakdown
Flydubai Flight Hijacking Attempt Averted: Co-pilot Attack, International Investigations
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The Incident Aboard Flight FZ1073
On September 30, Flydubai flight FZ1073 left Dubai for Tel Aviv with over 170 passengers. About two and a half hours later, the co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit’s emergency axe, stabbing him and causing a rapid 17,000-ft (5,200 m) plunge. Passengers and two off-duty pilots entered the cockpit, subdued the attacker and regained control, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia on October 1.
Background & Context
The assailant has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national previously barred from Oman Air in 2024 over alleged extremist views before joining Flydubai. He held an Australian student visa from 2015-2017; the visa was cancelled in 2019 for non-enrolment. Australian security agencies are reviewing whether radicalisation occurred during his time in Australia.
Timeline
- September 30 – Flight departs; co-pilot attacks captain.
- ~8:21 a.m. local – Aircraft transmits emergency code 7700, then hijack code 7500.
- October 1 – Emergency landing in Tabuk; passengers and crew unharmed.
- October 3 – AFP confirms a joint counter-terrorism team is probing the co-pilot’s Australian links.
Data & Statistics
- Passenger counts reported: 170 +, 174, 182.
- Altitude loss: ~17,000 ft in ~30 seconds.
- Aircraft: Boeing 737 Max 8, flight FZ1073.
- Injuries: captain stabbed; two Saudi crew members hospitalized; other passengers uninjured.
Official Statements & Responses
- UAE prosecutor general called the act a “terrorist attack” using the cockpit axe.
- AFP spokesperson said the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, including AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, is investigating the man’s Australian connections and will update “at the appropriate time.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Passengers described the plunge as a “rollercoaster” with massive G-forces. Almog Itali recounted the rapid descent and stabilization. Asaf Rajuan captured video after the attacker was subdued, pleading for assistance. Miryam Shira Ohayon noted only the pilot’s injuries and praised the crew’s effort to prevent a crash.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Passenger numbers differ across sources.
- Israeli officials label the incident a “jihadist terror attack,” while the UAE has not linked it to any extremist group.
- Motive remains “unknown” in some statements; Netanyahu claimed it was a suicide-style attack.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again,” — Capt Smit Machchhar.
- “Almog Itali said: "Suddenly the aeroplane started to, like a rollercoaster, to drop down [with] a massive G-force.” — Almog Itali.
- “As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer; the attacker underwent Islamist radicalization. He came to crash the plane with its passengers,” — Benjamin Netanyahu.
- “This guy was trying to jam the equipment between the two flight seats, the pilot seats,” — Benjamin Netanyahu.
- “Whoever is hearing me, we need help,” — Asaf Rajuan.
What’s Next
The UAE investigation continues, with the co-pilot in custody and being questioned by Emirati, Israeli and Saudi authorities. Australian agencies are reviewing his activities and online contacts to assess radicalisation pathways. Both the UAE prosecutor’s office and the AFP say further findings will be released “at the appropriate time.”