Attempted Flydubai Hijacking on September 30, 2026

On September 30 a Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX-8 departed Dubai for Tel Aviv with 174 passengers, most of them Israeli, and six crew members. Approximately two-and-a-half hours into the flight, the co-pilot, identified by multiple sources as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the aircraft’s emergency axe. The assault caused the plane to plunge more than 17,000 feet in under two minutes, triggering a hijack transponder code (7500). Passengers and cabin crew entered the cabin, restrained the attacker, and two off-duty pilots who were travelling as passengers regained control, landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

NIA registers FIR to probe conspiracy in Flydubai cockpit attack Al Jazeera (website)The Jerusalem Post

He alleged that al-Hammami was influenced by “takfiri” ideology, read extremist literature, and followed online content glorifying terrorist organisations.

The Guardian

• Passengers: 174 (majority Israeli)

Suspect in FlyDubai incident was previously identified as security risk: Officials

• Crew: 6 (including Captain Machchhar, Indian national)

Al Jazeera (website)

• Injuries: Captain Machchhar sustained serious head and hand wounds but survived; al-Hammami was restrained and later transferred to United Arab Emirates (UAE) custody.

Terrorist Flydubai Pilot Was Radicalized in Australia and Pursued Career in Aviation to Carry Out 9/11-Style Attack, Prosecutors Allege

• Landing: Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, at 9:45 am local time (06:45 GMT).

NIA registers FIR to probe conspiracy in Flydubai cockpit attack

Passengers reported a “terrifying plummet” as the aircraft descended. Israeli businessman Tal recounted shaking two additional pilots forward to the cockpit while other passengers fought the attacker. Dr. Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun helped steady the aircraft until a third pilot took over.

The Jerusalem Post

• Saudi Arabia: Authorities transferred al-Hammami to the UAE after his arrest and confirmed the safe landing.

The Guardian

• Flydubai: The airline announced a temporary suspension of its Tel Aviv service pending the outcome of the investigations.

Terrorist Flydubai Pilot Was Radicalized in Australia and Pursued Career in Aviation to Carry Out 9/11-Style Attack, Prosecutors Allege

Sources differ on the exact sequence inside the cockpit. Some accounts describe an “empty cockpit” period during which the relief pilots entered using an access code; other reports claim the captain opened the door himself while severely wounded. The duration of this interval has not been independently verified. Additionally, while the UAE’s statement credits a flight attendant with helping subdue the attacker, passenger Asaf Rajuan alleges that an attendant may have loosened the attacker’s restraints and later approached the wounded captain with a tablet, a claim that remains unsubstantiated.

The Jerusalem Post

• “We recognise that there are many questions at this stage; however, the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation,” — News. FlyDubai

Suspect in FlyDubai incident was previously identified as security risk: Officials

• “He said, 'Kill me please, kill me please,'" Musaev said.” — Dr. Shota Musaev

Suspect in FlyDubai incident was previously identified as security risk: Officials

• “ "He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.” — Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli prime minister

Suspect in FlyDubai incident was previously identified as security risk: Officials