Flydubai Flight FZ1073 cockpit attack leads to emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

Incident Details

The Boeing 737 operating flydubai flight FZ1073 was en route from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport when the co‑pilot attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Passengers and crew overpowered the attacker, and a reserve flydubai pilot on the flight took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

The UAE Attorney‑General described the incident as a terrorist attack, and the UAE authorities are treating it as such. Saudi authorities detained the co‑pilot before transferring him to the UAE.

Co‑pilot Background

The co‑pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al‑Hammami, had previously operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier in the year and had planned to hijack and crash it, but changed his mind because he knew someone on board. He was enrolled at RMIT University in Melbourne but did not complete an engineering qualification, and New Zealand police are investigating his time in New Zealand.

Flight Outcome

All occupants were reported safe by flydubai. The aircraft lost a significant altitude during the incident before the emergency landing.