Aviation

Flydubai co‑pilot attempts hijack on Dubai‑Tel Aviv flight, plane lands in Saudi Arabia

Analysed · First reported · Updated

Flydubai co‑pilot attempts hijack on Dubai‑Tel Aviv flight, plane lands in Saudi Arabia
Image: sbs.com.au

A 29‑year‑old Omani co‑pilot attacked the flight deck of Flydubai Flight 1073, causing a rapid descent and emergency landing, while authorities investigate possible terrorist or mental‑health motives.

Hijack attempt and flight outcome

Co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami, 29, attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchar with a cockpit crash axe on Flydubai Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, causing a violent pitch‑down that tore part of the Boeing 737’s rudder and dropped the aircraft about 17,000 ft before the captain opened the cockpit door. Off‑duty crew members and Israeli passengers intervened, and the plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Co‑pilot background

Al‑Hammami had left Oman Air’s pilot‑training programme in February 2025 after concerns about his extremist ideology and was previously dismissed by Oman Air for extremist views and radicalisation. While studying remotely at Buckinghamshire New University he posted online condoning violence against women and praising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Investigations and motives

The UAE’s aviation authority is investigating possible terrorist activity or prior planning related to the incident. PBS NewsHour anchor Geoff Bennett said neither President Trump nor Prime Minister Netanyahu provided evidence of a terrorist motive, and Juliette Kayyem suggested mental‑health issues or self‑radicalisation could be factors. Australian Federal Police and ASIO have joined the investigation after learning the co‑pilot spent time at a Victorian university.

Regulatory response

Israel’s Transportation Ministry acknowledged it does not perform independent background checks on foreign aircrews operating flights into the country, and officials said there is no mechanism to track pilots from hostile or non‑diplomatic states on Ben Gurion Airport routes.

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