Hero Pilot Recounts Daring Act to Thwart Dubai Flight Terror Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Captain Smith, the pilot who was severely injured during an attempted terror attack on a Flydubai flight to Israel. Smith recounted the terrifying moments in the cockpit when he realized the plane was diving and that the passengers' lives depended on his actions. Despite being badly wounded and nearly losing his sight, Smith managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and overpower the attacker.

Smith described the incident as starting as a normal flight until he was struck forcefully on the head. He initially thought the plane was damaged but soon realized he was being attacked by the co-pilot. The blows continued, leaving him disoriented and with blurred vision, just as the plane began to dive.

"I remembered I had one more fight to win," Smith said, "I understood that if I didn't do something, I would die." Gathering his remaining strength, he reached the cockpit's internal door mechanism and managed to turn the handle. "The moment I got there, I succeeded. Luckily, people were there and jumped in. They took control, and you know the rest."

Netanyahu praised Smith for his bravery, calling him a "great hero" who "saved the situation" and proved that "a brave pilot can overcome evil." He invited Smith and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a torch on Israel's Independence Day, calling Smith "a true hero of the people of Israel and India, a hero of the whole world." Netanyahu also wished him a full recovery.

The attacker, identified as 29-year-old Omani citizen of Syrian origin Al-Hammami, had previously been flagged as a security risk. Reports indicated that in 2024, while working for Oman Air, "extremist materials" were found in his possession, leading to his grounding. Despite this, he later returned to piloting, moved between airlines, and was eventually hired by Flydubai. Social media accounts attributed to Al-Hammami reportedly contained disturbing content, including footage of an El Al plane and material with extremist religious themes.

The Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates confirmed that the investigation revealed the co-pilot intended to carry out a terror attack. Authorities stated Al-Hammami attacked Smith with the cockpit's emergency axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft's systems. The investigation in the Emirates is ongoing to determine his motives, connections, and whether he acted alone.