FlyDubai Co-Pilot Planned Attack Before Joining Airline, Report Says

Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami confessed to UAE investigators that he conceived the plan for a terrorist attack before joining FlyDubai, according to Reuters, citing two Israeli officials familiar with the investigation. Al-Hammami reportedly sought out an airline with flights to Tel Aviv before applying to FlyDubai, with Ben Gurion Airport as his target. He had previously flown to Tel Aviv in 2026 and intended to hijack and crash the plane then, but abandoned the plan for reasons not fully established, possibly due to the presence of an acquaintance on board.

Further details from The Wall Street Journal indicate that Omani authorities had previously reviewed al-Hammami's internet activity, deeming his interest in radical ideology incompatible with his pilot role at Oman Air. He was removed from flying duties, reassigned to an administrative position, and enrolled in a deradicalization program, but this information was not widely shared. When al-Hammami applied to FlyDubai in February 2026, the airline did not contact Oman Air to verify his professional background, according to the WSJ. After a criminal record check, he was hired and subsequently assigned to numerous flights to Tel Aviv. UAE authorities are now investigating FlyDubai employees involved in his hiring, while the airline has stated it will not comment until the investigation concludes.

The UAE had provided Israel with passenger and crew lists for flight FZ1073 prior to its departure, but no individual raised alarms on the Israeli side. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that existing agreements prohibit citizens of countries without diplomatic ties to Israel, such as Oman, from flying to Israel. Following the incident, the Shin Bet stated that the vetting of foreign flight lists falls under the Ministry of Transport's purview. Minister of Transport Miri Regev countered that security services are responsible for aviation safety and her ministry received neither passenger lists nor warnings. The Prime Minister has ordered a separate review of the entire security system for foreign civilian flights, noting that a 2024 state comptroller recommendation for clearer inter-agency responsibility distribution in this area was not adequately implemented.

On September 30, flight FZ1073 was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv when al-Hammami attacked Captain Smith Machchhar with an emergency axe from the cockpit, attempting to seize control of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and causing the aircraft to rapidly lose altitude. The UAE has officially classified the event as a terrorist attack. Captain Machchhar recounted that al-Hammami requested permission to pray before the assault. After Machchhar turned away, he was struck forcefully on the back of the head and continued to be attacked. Despite severe injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to intervene. Israeli passengers Yaniv Hayun, Tzvika Manes, and Assaf Rajuan played a key role in subduing the attacker, with Dr. Shota Musaev providing medical assistance to the injured captain. President Yitzhak Herzog recommended the four men for the "President's Award for Civilian Courage."

After al-Hammami was neutralized, relief pilots from FlyDubai, who were among the passengers, took control of the aircraft and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. FlyDubai has not disclosed their names, and unconfirmed reports about their citizenship persist. Al-Hammami, an Omani citizen born in the UAE to a Syrian mother, also underwent theoretical training at Royal Air Maroc in 2025 but was not hired. Australian and New Zealand authorities are investigating his connections and time spent in those countries. Al-Hammami is in custody in the UAE, with no official charges publicly announced at the time of publication.