Full Breakdown
Near-Miss Terror Attack on Flydubai Flight FZ1073 and Its Political Fallout
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 30 2026 a Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after co-pilot 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami stabbed captain Smit Machchhar and attempted to crash the aircraft. Machchhar, despite serious head wounds, opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew to subdue the attacker and regain control. All 174 people on board survived.
Background & Context
Israel’s aviation security bars pilots from countries without diplomatic relations from operating flights to Israel. Flydubai had been flying the Dubai-Tel Aviv route under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Prior warnings from the Shin Bet and the National Security Council about vetting foreign crews were reportedly ignored.
Timeline
- September 30 2026 – Attack occurs; plane lands safely in Tabuk.
- October 1 2026 – Israeli officials begin questioning the co-pilot in the UAE; the UAE prosecutor-general announces an investigation.
- October 3 2026 – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks by video call with Machchhar, praising his actions.
- October 4 2026 – Netanyahu orders a security review of all foreign civil flights to Israel and tasks NSC head Shmuel Ben Ezra with appointing an examiner.
Data & Statistics
- Passengers: 174 (?166 Israeli).
- Crew: 8 including the two pilots.
- Altitude loss: ?16,600 ft in ~30 seconds (Flightradar24).
- Flight number: FZ1073.
Official Statements & Responses
Israel framed the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack.” Netanyahu said the attacker had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” and warned that any backer would “pay a very heavy price.” He cited Israel’s “constraints” that should have prevented an Omani pilot from operating the flight and called for tighter pre-flight screening. The UAE prosecutor-general confirmed the use of a crash axe and opened a criminal probe. Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith called it a “safety incident” and said facts must be established.
Criticism & Opposition
Former NSC chief Eyal Hulata accused the prime minister of using the NSC to shield himself, calling the review an “empty ritual.” Transportation Minister Miri Regev argued that security responsibility for foreign airlines lies with the Mossad and Shin Bet, not her ministry. Opposition figures—including former prime minister Naftali Bennett, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, and Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot—condemned the government for “celebrating the failure” and demanded Regev’s resignation, drawing parallels to the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Motive: Netanyahu described the act as “radical indoctrination” and a possible “suicide attempt,” while other officials said the motive remained “unknown.”
- Detection: UAE authorities shared passenger and crew lists with Israel, but Israeli agencies claim they received no prior warning about the co-pilot, and the Transportation Ministry says it lacks intelligence-gathering capacity.
- Pilot vetting: Flydubai says the co-pilot had been barred by Oman’s airline for extremist concerns, yet Israeli officials were unaware of this restriction.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
- “In my opinion, the NSC is one of the bodies that needs to be investigated here,” — Eyal Hulata
What’s Next
The prime minister’s office has tasked NSC head Shmuel Ben Ezra with appointing an examiner to review “all aspects” of security for foreign civilian flights to Israel. The UAE investigation continues, and Flydubai has suspended its Israel flights pending the outcome. The security review is expected to produce recommendations before the national election on October 27 2026.