Flydubai Co-Pilot Attack Sparks Security Review

Reports suggest that the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073 intended to take control of the aircraft and crash it into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport or a tower block in the city. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 180 passengers aboard when the Omani national allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit’s emergency crash axe. Passengers overpowered him, and another crew member flying on the aircraft landed it in Saudi Arabia. The UAE attorney-general has described the incident as an attempted terrorist act, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination and that those on board prevented a disaster comparable to the 11 September attacks. According to Israeli media reports citing sources familiar with the investigation, the co-pilot planned to continue flying normally into Israeli airspace and obtain landing clearance before crashing the Boeing 737 MAX. He reportedly said he had considered hijacking and crashing an earlier flight to Tel Aviv but abandoned that plan because he knew someone on board. Sources believe he likely acted alone, though authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported details. The UAE says its investigation will establish the circumstances, motives and any connections. The incident has prompted questions about aviation security and the co-pilot’s recruitment. Regional officials said Oman Air had previously barred him from flying and reassigned him over concerns about extremist views. They said Flydubai later hired him after standard checks that did not assess possible signs of radicalisation. Disputes have also emerged over who was responsible for screening crew and passenger lists for flights to Israel. Netanyahu has ordered a review of security arrangements for foreign civil aviation. Australian authorities are investigating the co-pilot’s reported links to Australia, where local media say he studied from 2015 to 2017.

Israeli officials say a FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing his captain told investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he planned the attack before joining the airline. A source briefed on the UAE investigation said the Omani national intended to crash Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The source also said he had previously operated a Tel Aviv-bound flight and considered hijacking and crashing it, but did not proceed, possibly because he knew someone onboard. The sources spoke anonymously, and neither UAE nor Israeli authorities nor FlyDubai had publicly confirmed the co-pilot’s identity or responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. Reuters could not independently contact the suspect, who was in UAE custody; no formal charges or legal representation had been announced. The UAE prosecutor general described the cockpit attack as a “terrorist attack.” The co-pilot allegedly used an emergency crash axe against the captain. Passengers and crew subdued him, while a reserve FlyDubai pilot took control and landed the aircraft at an airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the suspect before transferring him to the UAE. The Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, survived and was praised for his actions. More than 170 people were aboard, most of them Israeli. Israeli officials said the suspect sought employment at FlyDubai after looking for airlines that flew to Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, including Oman, are not allowed to operate flights there. It remains unclear how the co-pilot was assigned to the route; Netanyahu ordered a security review of foreign airlines serving Israel. Investigations are also examining the suspect’s time in New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand police are reviewing his time in the country, while an Australian counterterrorism unit is investigating his links there. He reportedly studied at Melbourne’s RMIT University about a decade ago. Netanyahu alleged that the co-pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and was suicidal. The suspect had completed theoretical training at Royal Air Maroc in 2025, but the airline later rejected his job application.

An Omani co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight allegedly tried to hijack the aircraft and crash it into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, according to Israeli officials and other sources familiar with the investigation. The co-pilot, identified by sources as Hamam al Hamami, reportedly told Emirati interrogators that he had planned the attack before joining FlyDubai. During the Sept. 30 flight, he allegedly attacked the captain with a crash ax. The captain, Smit Machchhar, fought him off long enough to open the cockpit door; passengers and FlyDubai staff then subdued the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots helped regain control. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and Machchhar was treated for stab wounds. Former Israeli aviation-security official Eytan Ben David said Israel’s procedures should have prevented an Omani pilot from flying into the country, since Oman lacks formal diplomatic relations with Israel. He called the apparent failure a “huge failure” and a “big miracle.” Israel requires foreign airlines to submit passenger and crew lists before flights, but authorities have said that the transportation ministry and security agencies were not responsible for vetting foreign crews. Ben David said that responsibility primarily belongs to the ministry’s security branch and predicted the incident would prompt countries to review their procedures. The article describes additional warning signs: al Hamami had reportedly been removed from pilot duties at Oman Air after authorities found he was visiting radical websites. He was transferred to an office role, resigned around 2024, and later joined FlyDubai. Sources said the Emirati airline hired him without checking with Oman’s government; they also said he may have held dual citizenship, potentially explaining how he was cleared to fly to Israel. FlyDubai declined to comment while the investigation continues. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the co-pilot should not have been flying a commercial aircraft and that the United States was reviewing its own procedures. He did not address possible links to Iran, while President Donald Trump had publicly raised the possibility of Iranian involvement. The article reports no confirmed Iranian connection and notes that Oman has not publicly confirmed al Hamami’s nationality.

Israeli investigators believe the alleged attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was likely a lone-wolf attack, according to people familiar with the investigation. The inquiry is ongoing, and authorities are still exploring multiple possibilities. During the flight, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the aircraft. The captain resisted and opened the cockpit door; Israeli passengers and FlyDubai staff subdued the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots helped regain control. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot is now being interrogated in the United Arab Emirates after initial questioning by Saudi authorities. Israel has sent representatives to the UAE to take part in the investigation. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the co-pilot could be linked to Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the motive remained unknown and described the event as possibly a suicide attempt. Netanyahu later said the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination, based on information gathered during questioning, and reportedly shouted, “Kill me, kill me!” after being restrained. Sources identified the co-pilot as Hamam al Hamami, though he has not been publicly named by authorities. They said he briefly worked for Oman Air, where government surveillance reportedly found him visiting radical websites. Oman Air moved him to an office role, and he later resigned. Sources also said he once posted a video of El Al aircraft in Dubai that ended with an image of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Al Hamami later moved to Dubai and was hired by FlyDubai, reportedly without the airline vetting him with the Omani government. Sources described him as an Omani citizen who was born elsewhere and spent much of his life outside Oman; his mother is Syrian and his father Omani. The possibility of dual citizenship was raised as a potential explanation for how he was permitted to fly to Israel. The Omani government has not publicly confirmed his nationality.

The article reports on an alleged attempt by FlyDubai co-pilot Hamam al Hamami to seize control of a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on September 30 and crash it. According to accounts cited by CBS News, the co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit emergency ax as the plane approached Israel. The captain fought him off long enough to open the cockpit door; passengers and crew then subdued him, while two off-duty pilots helped regain control. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. No passengers were seriously injured, though the captain and two crew members sustained injuries. Investigators are examining al Hamami’s background, possible radicalization, and motive. Sources told CBS News that he had worked briefly for Oman Air, where officials reportedly found he was visiting radical websites and moved him to an office role. He later resigned and was hired by FlyDubai. Sources also described a video he allegedly posted featuring El Al aircraft and an image of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. His name and background have not been officially confirmed by all relevant authorities. He is an Omani citizen, according to sources, and reportedly has Syrian and Omani parentage. Buckinghamshire New University confirmed he completed an online aviation-management course, but said he did not train there as a pilot. Israeli officials have described the incident as a likely lone-wolf attack and said al Hamami told UAE interrogators he had planned it before joining FlyDubai and intended to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli authorities are also investigating whether anyone directed him and whether there were links to Iran or a broader terror plot. Statements by Israeli leaders have characterized the incident as Islamist radicalization or a jihadist attack, while President Trump suggested a possible Iran connection; Netanyahu said it was too early to determine Iran’s role. The article also details Israel’s response: after the aircraft plunged and the cockpit stopped answering calls, authorities established a command center, scrambled fighter jets, and closed Israeli airspace. The jets were recalled after the plane turned toward Saudi Arabia, where Saudi aircraft were also dispatched. The suspect was arrested after landing and later transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE for questioning by Israeli, UAE, and Saudi officials. The investigation remains ongoing.

Security agencies in Australia and New Zealand are investigating the past of the co-pilot accused of trying to seize control of Flydubai flight FZ1073 and deliberately crash it in Israel. The Omani national is being held in the United Arab Emirates. Authorities allege he attacked the pilot, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency ax in the cockpit. Machchhar and passengers stopped him and restrained him. During the struggle, the plane reportedly went into a near-vertical dive for about 30 seconds before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) confirmed that the suspect had enrolled at the Melbourne university but did not complete an engineering qualification. The Australian Federal Police said the Victorian Counter Terrorism Team, which includes federal and state police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), was investigating his links to Australia. Australian media reports said he arrived on a student visa in 2014, enrolled at RMIT in 2015, left in 2017 and had his visa canceled in 2019. New Zealand Police also confirmed that the suspect had spent time in the country, but did not say when or where. Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson said police were looking into that period in coordination with other agencies and could not comment further. The article also notes that Machchhar spent part of his formative years in New Zealand and completed early flight training with Mainland Air about 18 years ago. Mainland Air chief executive Philip Kean praised the pilot’s actions, saying Machchhar opened the cockpit door so others could help save the aircraft. Meanwhile, authorities in the UAE and Israel said their investigation was progressing.

The article reports that the co-pilot of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 allegedly planned to crash the Israel-bound aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv after attacking the captain. Multiple US and Israeli media reports, citing sources close to the multinational investigation, identify the co-pilot as Omani national Hamam Al-Hammami and say investigators believe he was most likely acting alone. According to the reports, he intended to steer the aircraft toward the airport using ordinary approach and landing procedures, then crash it at the last moment, with more than 180 passengers aboard. Israeli media reports say the co-pilot had prepared the attack over several months and had previously flown to Israel to gather information. Other accounts claim he considered crashing a different Tel Aviv-bound flight earlier in the year but changed his mind. Israel reportedly asked the UAE to broaden its questioning to include the flight crew. The article describes unresolved questions about the period after the co-pilot stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar: passengers rushed into the cockpit, subdued the attacker and helped stabilise the aircraft. UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the co-pilot attempted a “terrorist attack” by assaulting the captain with an axe and trying to seize control of the plane. The UAE is leading the investigation, with security agencies from four regional countries, including Israel, and assistance from the United States and other Western governments working to establish the co-pilot’s motives. The allegations are attributed to media reports and investigation sources; the article does not present them as established findings from a completed inquiry.

The article reports that Hamam al-Hammami, a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of an Israel-bound flight, allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media reports, al-Hammami told investigators he intended to continue Flight FZ1073 toward Israel, obtain clearance to approach the airport, and then strike a building or another aircraft there. Reuters separately cited a source briefed on the UAE investigation who said the co-pilot planned the attack; two Israeli officials reportedly said he described planning it before joining Flydubai. The article notes that Israeli investigators have not questioned him directly, and Fox News sought confirmation from the UAE Public Prosecution and Flydubai. The reported plan follows an incident on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30, 2026, when al-Hammami allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit. UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said investigators concluded the co-pilot attempted a terrorist act, using a crash axe against the captain and trying to take control of the plane. Passengers and others aboard intervened, and the aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The UAE investigation is ongoing. Al Shamsi said authorities are working to establish the full circumstances and motive, including whether anyone else was connected to the attack. The UAE Public Prosecution said it would announce final findings after investigative procedures are complete. The account relies on reported findings and statements from officials; the article does not present a final investigation report.

An ongoing investigation has found that the co-pilot who attacked a FlyDubai flight intended to crash it into Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, according to a source familiar with the investigation who spoke to NPR anonymously. The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 172 people aboard, most of them Israeli, when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe and tried to take control. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, and all passengers and crew were safe. A pilot who happened to be aboard helped land the aircraft after passengers subdued the attacker. The captain and co-pilot survived and were transferred to the United Arab Emirates for questioning. Authorities in the UAE, which is leading the investigation with assistance from Israeli officials, and in Israel have classified the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. The motive remains unclear, and investigators believe the co-pilot likely acted alone. Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft descended more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident. Israeli officials say the co-pilot is an Omani national, though Omani and Emirati officials have not publicly confirmed his nationality. The reported nationality has raised questions because Israel restricts pilots from countries with which it has no diplomatic relations from flying in its airspace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel checks pilots’ backgrounds and suggested the attacker may have exploited a “loophole.” Israel’s transportation ministry and security services have blamed one another for gaps in oversight, while political opponents have criticized the government’s security record. Netanyahu announced a formal examination of security around foreign civil aviation into Israel. The incident comes just weeks before Israel’s national election, the first since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack that prompted the Gaza war. Netanyahu has campaigned on his ability to protect the country, while opponents cite security failures under his leadership. Polls show a close contest, though analysts say the FlyDubai attack is unlikely to change voters’ views.

The article reports allegations that Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani flydubai co-pilot, planned to hijack a flight and crash it at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport. Citing the Jerusalem Post, it says al-Hammami told investigators he had researched airlines serving Israel, visited the country to gather intelligence, and chose flydubai because it flew to Tel Aviv. He reportedly said he had planned the operation before being hired and had once considered crashing a plane in July, but changed his mind because he was close to a crew member. Ynet is cited for the further allegation that he considered targeting Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Towers in an attack modeled on 9/11, and wanted to act before Israeli fighter jets could respond. The report says investigators suspect al-Hammami acted alone rather than on behalf of a terrorist organization, and that questioning is continuing in the United Arab Emirates. An Emirati source reportedly said he could face the death penalty. The article also alleges that he attacked lead pilot Smit Machchhar with a crash axe; passengers reportedly intervened, and the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia. Israeli investigators and aviation experts have traveled to Abu Dhabi, with two US intelligence agents also reportedly arriving. Saudi and Omani officials are said to be continuing their questioning. The incident has prompted criticism of Israeli security agencies over the pilot-vetting process. Shin Bet reportedly says the Transportation Ministry is responsible for vetting passenger lists, while Transportation Minister Miri Regev says security agencies oversee flight security and that her ministry received neither a passenger list nor warnings about the pilots. The article additionally cites alleged social media posts in which al-Hammami expressed hostility toward women and Jewish people.

Lital Hirschl-Shahar, 39, says she and her four daughters were terrified when a suspected hijacking unfolded aboard flydubai Flight 1073, traveling to Israel after a family vacation in Singapore and Thailand. She recalled hearing that the pilot was under attack and that the cockpit was covered in blood, followed by the aircraft rapidly descending. Believing they might die, she prayed and told her daughters—ages 14, 11, 7 and 5—to pray for a miracle. The article identifies co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami as the suspected attacker. Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed multiple times but fought back and opened the cockpit door, alerting passengers to the crisis. Passenger Yaniv Hayun and other men helped restrain al-Hammami and give first aid to the captain. During the confrontation, the plane reportedly plunged about 18,000 feet in 12 minutes, and its rudder was damaged. Hayun, a plumber, helped stabilize the aircraft using knowledge he said he had gained from the documentary series “Mayday.” Two off-duty pilots aboard assisted with an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft arrived safely. Hirschl-Shahar described the passengers’ survival as “a miracle wrapped in a miracle wrapped in a miracle.” Her family is now home recovering, although her seven-year-old daughter developed a fever after the stressful event. Hirschl-Shahar also said she has had to contend with social-media claims that the attempted hijacking was staged, which she said diminish the frightening experience endured by her family and the other 173 passengers.

The article reports that Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old flydubai co-pilot, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machhar with a knife during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, intending to take over the aircraft and crash it into one of Tel Aviv’s Azrieli towers. The Times of London, Channel 12, and other outlets are cited for details of the alleged plan. The towers are near Israel’s military headquarters, the Kirya. Investigators say Hammami also considered crashing into Ben Gurion International Airport’s terminal if he could not intercept the plane in flight. He reportedly told investigators he had selected flydubai because it flew to Tel Aviv and had planned the operation before joining the airline. Reports also say he had previously considered carrying out a similar attack on an earlier Tel Aviv flight but abandoned the plan; the reason remains unclear, though sources suggested he may have known someone aboard the later flight. Machhar, who is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hammami prayed in the cockpit shortly before attacking him. The assault caused the Boeing 737, carrying 174 people, to lose about 17,000 feet as Machhar fought to survive. Passengers, including Israeli passengers, restrained Hammami and helped the injured pilot. Two pilots regained control and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The article says Hammami had previously worked for Oman Air and had been given another role amid concerns about his radical views. Israeli officials and security experts are examining how he passed airline and aviation-security checks. The reports describe disagreement among Israeli government and security bodies, including the Transportation Ministry, Mossad, and Shin Bet, over possible security failures. Investigators suspect Hammami acted alone rather than on behalf of a terrorist organization. He remains under questioning in the UAE and is expected to face the death penalty, according to the article.

Israeli investigators believe Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and trying to take control of a flight bound for Tel Aviv, probably acted alone. Sources cited by CNN said investigators have not found a known connection between al-Hammami and any group or government, though the investigation remains open. This finding contrasts with US President Donald Trump’s earlier suggestion, without providing details, that the suspect might be linked to Iran. The UAE attorney general has called the incident an attempted terrorist act. The incident occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Al-Hammami allegedly struck Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to seize control. Although wounded, Machchhar activated the cockpit-door mechanism, allowing crew and passengers to enter and subdue the co-pilot. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Investigators are also examining whether al-Hammami tried to bring down the Boeing 737. A report by Italy’s Corriere della Sera, cited by Ynet News, said they were looking into whether he switched both engine fuel controls from “Run” to “Cutoff.” The report further alleged that, after disabling autopilot, he put the aircraft into a steep descent, possibly aiming to crash it in the Saudi desert as others thwarted his takeover attempt. The article notes that al-Hammami, 29, previously worked for Oman Air and, according to CNN, was removed from that job amid concerns about extremist views. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” based on information from questioning, but offered no further detail. The incident has prompted scrutiny of aviation security and crew vetting. Israeli authorities received passenger and crew names before departure, but the transportation ministry said its procedures did not include checking crew identities. With Oman lacking formal diplomatic relations with Israel, Netanyahu described the case as exposing a security “loophole.” Israel has ordered a review of security procedures for foreign civil aviation.

NPR’s Up First briefing covers three major stories. Investigators say a co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attempted to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport. The United Arab Emirates has classified the incident as a terrorist attack, though authorities have not established a motive and the investigation continues. The co-pilot reportedly acted alone and used a crash axe. His Omani origin has prompted questions in Israel about how he was permitted to fly there, since Israel bars pilots from countries without diplomatic relations; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot may have passed through a loophole. Passengers and the captain are being praised for preventing disaster, alongside debate about possible government failures. The U.S. Supreme Court begins its term by hearing a case brought by Boulder, Colorado, against Suncor and Exxon Mobil. The city says the companies misled the public about fossil-fuel harms and contributed to costly local disasters. The companies argue the case belongs in federal, not state, court because climate change is a global issue. Justice Samuel Alito’s recusal leaves eight justices, increasing the possibility of a tie that would leave in place a Colorado ruling allowing the case to proceed in state court. Brazil’s presidential election is headed to a runoff between incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro led the first round with about 47% to Lula’s 45%. Lula will need to attract additional voters, while many supporters of other candidates may favor Bolsonaro. The report also describes voters’ frustration with politics and concerns about a conservative return to power. The briefing’s additional features include consumer advice from Groundwork Collaborative’s Lindsay Owens on avoiding personalized or opaque pricing, a behind-the-scenes account of NPR reporter Andrew Limbong’s interview with author Barbara Kingsolver, and the beginning of a short item about artist Theaster Gates acquiring a china factory.