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Deepfake Hijacking Video Exposed After Flydubai Stabbing

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 11:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Co-pilot Removed

Fact-checkers determined the hijacking video was a deepfake using BBC anchor Sally Bundock’s footage.
The deepfake claimed the hijacking occurred over Dubai and added 2022 turbulence audio.
The video also falsely identified Indian passenger Raghav Menon, with no verified source.
Investigators discovered co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami possessed extremist material in 2024, leading to his removal from flight duties.
Security screening emphasized criminal records but omitted deeper checks for radicalisation indicators.

Summary

Omani Co-pilot Stabs

Omani co-pilot stabbed Indian captain on Flydubai flight FZ1073, causing a 14,000-ft plunge.
Passengers and two off-duty pilots restrained the attacker and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Naftali Bennett urged voters to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and blamed Transportation Minister Miri Regev.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich funded Dubai rescue flights.

History

Historical Context

The March 24, 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 crash, caused by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, killed 150 people and sparked worldwide aviation reforms. Lufthansa, which owned Germanwings, faced a €1 billion compensation fund and the European Aviation Safety Agency mandated mandatory psychological screening for all pilots by 2016. Today's Flydubai incident, where Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami stabbed captain Raghav Menon and was later linked to extremist material, mirrors Lubitz’s insider threat and highlights gaps in radicalisation screening. Consequently, regulators worldwide are revisiting background-check protocols, urging airlines like Dubai’s Emirates and Oman Air to integrate behavioral analytics alongside traditional criminal records.

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Co-pilot Removed

Fact-checkers determined the hijacking video was a deepfake using BBC anchor Sally Bundock’s footage.
The deepfake claimed the hijacking occurred over Dubai and added 2022 turbulence audio.
The video also falsely identified Indian passenger Raghav Menon, with no verified source.
Investigators discovered co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami possessed extremist material in 2024, leading to his removal from flight duties.
Security screening emphasized criminal records but omitted deeper checks for radicalisation indicators.

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