Omani assistant pilot attempts hijack of Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv

Attack on board

The assistant pilot, identified as Hamám Hamámí, used a kitchen knife to assault the Indian captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was carrying 182 people, and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. Passengers and part of the crew overpowered the attacker.

The cockpit door was opened with a code during the attack, and after the incident another pilot took control and directed the plane to land.

Emergency landing

The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the assault.

Official classification

Both United Arab Emirates and Israeli authorities described the incident as a terrorist act.

Pilot background

The assistant pilot is a 29‑year‑old Omani national who worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024, joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025, and transferred to Flydubai in January 2026. He had taken two prior flights to Tel Aviv, which he used for reconnaissance of the route and airport. His extremist tendencies were reported to have begun in 2017 during studies in Australia, and he was inspired by the September 11 attacks.

An investigation found no indication of an extremist background or external motivation for the attack, and noted the pilot had training in boxing.