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Oman Co-Pilot Attacks Israel-Bound Flight, Jet Lands Safely

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 7:59 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Al-Hammami Attacks Captain

Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe on Flight 1073 to Israel.
Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door despite wounds, letting passengers restrain the attacker.
Two pilots diverted the jet to Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, landing safely.
Investigators found al-Hammami had been barred by Oman Air in 2024 for extremist material.

Summary

UAE Tightens Flight Checks

UAE officials objected to Israel calling chartered services “rescue flights,” saying the term mischaracterizes it.
UAE Ambassador Mohamed Al-Khaja and Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev met to coordinate aviation security.
Both sides agreed to tighten crew checks and adopt Etihad-Airways-like protocols for flydubai services to Israel.
The meeting also covered plans to increase Dubai-Tel Aviv flight frequency under the Abraham Accords framework.

History

Historical Context

The September 11 attacks in 2001, when al-Qaeda hijackers seized four U.S. airliners, reshaped global aviation security and prompted worldwide policy overhauls. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration allocated $1.5 billion in 2002 to install reinforced cockpit doors on 1,000 commercial jets across major carriers. Similarly, Oman Air barred pilot Hamam al-Hammami in 2024 for material, and the UAE and Israel tighten crew checks on flights to Tel Aviv. These measures echo post-9/11 reforms, aiming to prevent future cockpit intrusions and sustain expanding air links under the Abraham Accords, protecting the burgeoning tourism economy.

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Al-Hammami Attacks Captain

Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe on Flight 1073 to Israel.
Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door despite wounds, letting passengers restrain the attacker.
Two pilots diverted the jet to Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, landing safely.
Investigators found al-Hammami had been barred by Oman Air in 2024 for extremist material.

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