A co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a knife on September 30, 2026, with investigators revealing that he intended to crash the plane in Israel. The flight, carrying 174 passengers and crew, was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The assailant, identified as Hamam al-Hamami, an Omani citizen, has been arrested and is currently under investigation for terrorism in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The attack and emergency landing
The incident unfolded aboard Flydubai flight FZ 1073. During the flight, co-pilot Hamam al-Hamami attacked Captain Smit Machhar, an Indian citizen, with a knife inside the cockpit. Following the assault, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, descending approximately 17,000 feet (5,100 meters) in just one minute.
Despite being severely injured, Captain Machhar fought back against his attacker and managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and other crew members to enter and subdue al-Hamami. The aircraft then made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Co-pilot’s radical background and prior warnings
According to US media outlet CNN, Hamam al-Hamami is an Omani national who was born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. He spent many years in Syria, where he is believed to have been influenced by radical ideologies. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that investigators found evidence of al-Hamami’s adherence to al-Qaeda ideology. Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker’s inclination was towards Islamic radicalism and that he intended to crash the plane with its passengers. CNN, citing sources, stated that during interrogation, al-Hamami confessed his intention to crash the plane in Israel.
Al-Hamami’s behavior had raised concerns prior to the incident. He was removed from pilot training at Oman’s national airline in 2014. Furthermore, in 2024, during co-pilot training with Oman Air, extremist material was found in his possession, leading to his identification as a security risk. Oman subsequently banned him from flying due to his radical ideological views. However, Flydubai, a United Arab Emirates airline, reportedly hired al-Hamami approximately eight months ago (early 2026) without conducting any inquiry with the Omani government.
Ongoing investigation and flight suspensions
Captain Smit Machhar’s condition is stable, and he has been transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical treatment and recovery. Dr. Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, the UAE Attorney General, has formed a special investigation team to determine the exact cause, circumstances, and motives behind the incident, including any potential terrorist links.
Law enforcement agencies from Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States are all involved in the ongoing investigation. In response to the incident, Flydubai has suspended all its flights to Israel until further notice. Co-pilot Hamam al-Hamami remains under interrogation and investigation in the UAE on charges of terrorism.
Several questions remain open as the investigation continues. The specific type of weapon used by the attacker has not yet been determined. Investigators are also working to ascertain whether the incident was pre-planned or carried out under external direction, and if the attack specifically targeted Israeli passengers. Flydubai has yet to provide an explanation for its decision to hire al-Hamami despite the warnings from the Omani government. Additionally, questions have been raised regarding how the cockpit door was opened, although Captain Machhar is credited with opening it while fighting his assailant. Unconfirmed speculation by US President Donald Trump regarding a potential link between the co-pilot and Iran has not been substantiated.
