Full Breakdown
Omani Co-Pilot’s Attempted Hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073
By Drooid · · How we work
The Incident
On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 departed Dubai for Tel Aviv with more than 170 passengers, the majority Israeli. Omani-national co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit’s emergency axe, wounding the Indian pilot. Al-Hammami then tried to seize the controls, causing the Boeing 737 Max to plunge roughly 17,000 feet in about 30 seconds before a reserve pilot and other passengers regained control. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where al-Hammami was taken into custody.
Investigation and International Involvement
Israeli Shin Bet agents were sent to the United Arab Emirates to participate in al-Hammami’s interrogation. The agency declined further comment.
Motive and Planning
He said his primary target was Ben Gurion Airport and, if thwarted, he would have crashed the aircraft into a U.S. military base in Jordan. Earlier statements indicate the plot was conceived months before his employment with Flydubai.
Security and Vetting Gaps
Transportation Minister Miriam Regev said aviation security is divided between the Mossad (foreign airlines) and the Shin Bet (Israeli flights). She added that airlines are responsible for clearing crew members, a requirement the carrier allegedly failed to meet. The ministry’s Security and Cyber Division stressed it does not conduct intelligence background checks, relying on airlines’ declarations.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a “clear breach of the agreement” and ordered National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben Ezra to appoint an examiner to review foreign civil aviation security to Israel. UAE prosecutor Hamad Al Shamsi said the co-pilot’s actions constitute an attempted terrorist act and that final findings will be released after investigations. Israeli officials have affirmed that no other Flydubai crew members were involved, a conclusion shared by UAE investigators.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition leader Yair Lapid labeled the investigation a “sham,” drawing parallels to the handling of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. Right-wing figure Ofer Winter argued the incident shows a “chain of failures” similar to those preceding the 2023 massacre.
Data & Statistics
- Passengers and crew: 174 (majority Israeli)
- Aircraft: Boeing 737 Max
- Altitude loss: ? 17,000 ft in under a minute
- Weapon: cockpit emergency crash axe
- Diversion: from Tel Aviv route to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
What’s Next
Netanyahu’s ordered review will examine the division of responsibility among the Transportation Ministry, Mossad and Shin Bet, as well as airline vetting procedures. The examiner’s findings are expected to be presented to the cabinet, with no specific deadline announced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The airline knows that it was not permitted to operate this aircraft with a pilot holding an Omani passport who is barred from entering Israel,” — Shmuel Zakai, head of the Civil Aviation Authority
- “The entire intelligence issue is divided between the Mossad and the Shin Bet," Regev said.” — Miriam Regev, Israel’s Transportation Minister