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UAE detains Omani co-pilot for Ben Gurion crash attempt

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 5:58 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

UAE Detains Co-pilot

UAE detained Omani co-pilot Humam Al-Hamami for trying to crash a FlyDubai plane into Ben Gurion Airport.
On September 30, the co-pilot attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe.
Captain Machchhar and Israeli passengers subdued him, enabling safe landing in Saudi Arabia.
UAE prosecutors said he radicalised in Australia while studying at RMIT University.
UAE officials warned he faces an extremely severe penalty.

Summary

Youth Centre Funding Review

The Multicultural Youth Centre received a $36,960 Community Language Schools grant in March 2024.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Jonno Duniam urged an urgent review of the centre’s funding and security checks.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is probing the suspect’s Australian links.
Islamic Council of Victoria president Mohamed Mohideen condemned all extremism and urged the public not to blame the Muslim community.

History

Historical Context

After the September 11 2001 attacks, the FBI launched operation PENTTBOM—the largest U.S. criminal inquiry—identifying all 19 hijackers within 72 hours; fifteen were Saudi nationals. NATO’s first Article 5 invocation and the creation of the TSA in late 2001 reshaped global aviation security. Those reforms underpin today’s UAE prosecution of Omani co-pilot Humam Al-Hamami and Victoria’s review of the Multicultural Youth Centre.

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UAE Detains Co-pilot

UAE detained Omani co-pilot Humam Al-Hamami for trying to crash a FlyDubai plane into Ben Gurion Airport.
On September 30, the co-pilot attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe.
Captain Machchhar and Israeli passengers subdued him, enabling safe landing in Saudi Arabia.
UAE prosecutors said he radicalised in Australia while studying at RMIT University.
UAE officials warned he faces an extremely severe penalty.

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