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Flydubai passengers sue over axe attack on Flight FZ1073

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 2:07 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Omani Co-pilot Attacks

Passengers on flydubai Flight FZ1073 sued the airline and Israeli and UAE ministries.
100 passengers signed powers of attorney for a committee led by Tzvika Manes, seeking $43.5 million under Montreal Convention.
On September 30, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with an axe.
Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit, allowing crew to restrain the attacker despite wounds.
Off-duty pilots regained control and landed the aircraft in Tabuk after descending 14,000 feet.

Summary

SDS Launches TruthAI

The new policy bars pilots and cabin crew with citizenship of non-recognising states from Israeli flights.
United Airlines told affected staff to contact scheduling for Tel Aviv assignment changes.
The barred nationalities list includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Venezuela, Pakistan, Oman and others.
SDS unveiled TruthAI, a contactless smartphone AI tool with 4% false-positive and 10% false-negative rates.

Summary

Australian Authorities Probe

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the co-pilot passed all professional and security checks with no warning signs.
Prosecutors traced the suspect’s extremist drift to 2017 while he studied at RMIT University in Australia, accessing takfiri material.
Australian and New Zealand authorities are investigating the pilot’s links after his student visas and flight-training stints.
Melbourne Islamic centre “My Centre” leader Samir Mohtadi publicly denied involvement, calling the accusations false.

History

Historical Context

The September 11 2001 attacks, carried out by 19 al-Qaeda hijackers (15 Saudi) who killed 2,977 people, prompted the U.S. to overhaul aviation security. In response, the United States and its allies tightened airport screening worldwide. Today, airlines such as United and flydubai restricting pilots from Saudi, Iran or Oman echo that security-driven personnel policy.

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Omani Co-pilot Attacks

Passengers on flydubai Flight FZ1073 sued the airline and Israeli and UAE ministries.
100 passengers signed powers of attorney for a committee led by Tzvika Manes, seeking $43.5 million under Montreal Convention.
On September 30, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with an axe.
Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit, allowing crew to restrain the attacker despite wounds.
Off-duty pilots regained control and landed the aircraft in Tabuk after descending 14,000 feet.

1 / 4