Flydubai co‑pilot attacks captain and attempts to crash Dubai‑Tel Aviv flight
Based on · First reported · Updated
Sources
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- On 30 September 2026 a Flydubai Boeing 737 bound for Tel Aviv was attacked by first officer Hamam al‑Hammami, who struck the captain with a crash axe and said he wanted to pray before the assault, an act described as an attempted terrorist hijacking.
- Al‑Hammami disengaged the autopilot and pushed the control stick forward, causing the aircraft to lose about 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds and to exceed structural limits, with part of the rudder detaching; the plane transmitted squawk 7700 then 7500 and was diverted to Saudi Arabia before landing at Ben Gurion International Airport.
- Following the incident the United Arab Emirates cancelled all flights to Israel and began repatriation flights to return stranded passengers.
Why it matters
The cancellation of UAE‑Israel flights disrupts travel for hundreds of passengers and highlights security concerns for airlines operating between the two countries.
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