Flydubai flight FZ1073 hijack attempt leads to emergency landing

Crew list and security review

The Israeli tax authority received the crew list for flydubai flight FZ1073 before the flight, as required by Israeli law, and forwarded it to the Ministry of Transport for security review. The Ministry of Transport did not confirm whether it examined the list. Former accident investigation office head Yitzhak Raz said the Ministry, together with Shin Bet and Mossad, is responsible for security aspects of foreign airlines, while Shin Bet handles only Israeli airlines.

Cockpit attack

Co‑pilot Hammam al‑Hammami, an Omani citizen, attacked the captain with a knife during the flight. He attempted to seize control of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and later said he intended to crash the aircraft into a building or another plane. Passengers and off‑duty pilots restrained him, allowing the aircraft to be landed safely.

The UAE prosecutor described the attack as a terrorist act on 3 October, and the UAE Attorney General classified it as a "terrorist attack" on the same date. Australian Federal Police are investigating possible links to Australia.

Flight outcome

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The plane carried more than 170 passengers and crew, according to the UAE source, and 174 passengers according to another source. The co‑pilot was arrested in Saudi Arabia and transferred to the UAE for investigation.

Simulation of descent

A simulation of the incident showed a loss of 4,877 metres of altitude in 30 seconds after the autopilot was disconnected, after which the aircraft stabilised and landed safely.