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UAE Co-pilot Tried Crashing Flight 1073, Interrogation Says

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 8:09 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

UAE co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with an axe on Flight 1073.
The jet lost roughly 14,000 feet in 30 seconds before transmitting distress signals.
Wounded captain opened the cockpit door allowing passengers and two off-duty pilots to restrain al-Hammami.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, landing at 10:57 am with over 170 aboard.
UAE interrogation revealed al-Hammami intended to crash at Ben Gurion Airport as revenge for Gaza.

History

Historical Context

The 1976 Entebbe raid, where Israeli commandos rescued 102 hostages and killed 45 Ugandan soldiers after Air France Flight 139 was hijacked, marked a turning point in aviation security. Decades later, the 2024 UAE Flight 1073 incident, in which co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami was subdued by passengers in Tabuk, underscores the enduring challenge of in-flight violence that continues to shape aviation security policies.

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Story summary

UAE co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with an axe on Flight 1073.
The jet lost roughly 14,000 feet in 30 seconds before transmitting distress signals.
Wounded captain opened the cockpit door allowing passengers and two off-duty pilots to restrain al-Hammami.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, landing at 10:57 am with over 170 aboard.
UAE interrogation revealed al-Hammami intended to crash at Ben Gurion Airport as revenge for Gaza.

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