A co-pilot aboard a Flydubai aircraft attempted to carry out a terrorist attack by attacking the captain with an axe and trying to seize control of the plane, United Arab Emirates authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The shocking incident unfolded on Wednesday aboard flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 passengers and crew on board. According to UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the co-pilot used a crash axe—a tool normally stored in cockpits for emergency situations—to assault the pilot inside the cockpit.
Sources with direct knowledge of the investigation identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, though UAE authorities have not officially confirmed his identity. Israeli officials had earlier claimed the suspect was Omani, but Oman has remained silent on the matter.
Disaster was narrowly avoided when passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the attacker. A reserve Flydubai pilot who happened to be traveling on the flight took control of the aircraft and successfully landed it at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot immediately upon landing.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed the plane plummeted approximately 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds during the incident, a terrifying descent that would have been felt by everyone on board. Most passengers were Israeli nationals.
Both the captain and the co-pilot were injured during the confrontation and received medical treatment in Saudi Arabia before being cleared to travel to Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority praised the courage and quick response of Captain Machchhar Smit, an Indian national, along with the crew and passengers who helped bring the situation under control. The authority confirmed Captain Smit has returned safely to the UAE and is receiving necessary medical care.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident, including the co-pilot’s motives and whether he had any connections to extremist groups. The UAE is leading the probe, with Israeli investigators expected to participate alongside Emirati authorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is examining whether the co-pilot acted under anyone’s direction and warned that anyone involved would face severe consequences. Netanyahu claimed, without providing evidence, that the co-pilot had undergone “radical Islamist indoctrination” and appeared suicidal, though he acknowledged a clear motive has not yet been established.
Flydubai, which is owned by the Dubai government, said the circumstances are still under investigation and declined to comment further.
The incident has raised serious questions about aviation security protocols and crew vetting procedures. The Dubai-Tel Aviv route has become increasingly popular among Israeli travelers following the normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel under the Abraham Accords.
UAE authorities have urged the public to rely on official sources and avoid circulating unverified information while the investigation continues. Official findings will be announced through proper channels once procedures are completed.
Meanwhile, viral videos circulating on social media claiming to show the incident have been debunked as footage from unrelated flights, with some clips showing planes flying over Dubai with audio spliced in from older videos.
