Pilot Foils Co-Pilot's Attempt to Crash Flydubai Flight
Hamam al-Hammami, the co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an attempted hijacking. The incident occurred during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, prompting an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Al-Hammami reportedly stated he had premeditated the attack prior to his employment, despite previous concerns about his radical views leading to his removal from Oman Air. Investigations are being conducted by authorities in the UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on aviation security protocols and the adequacy of background checks for pilots. Al-Hammami allegedly planned to crash the aircraft if he could not reach Israel, and he interfered with the plane's controls, causing a rapid altitude drop. The Australian Federal Police is also looking into his connections to Australia.
Published 2 days ago • 04 Oct 2026, 11:20 AM IST