Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv lost 5,200 meters of altitude in a steep dive after the copiloto attacked the pilot with an emergency axe inside the cockpit, according to the United Arab Emirates Attorney General. The bbc.com reported that over 170 passengers were on board the Boeing 737 Max 8 when the incident forced an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia.
Flight FZ1073 Loses 5,200 Meters in Steep Dive Toward Israel
The Flydubai service departed Dubai International Airport two and a half hours before the confrontation began in the flight deck. Flightradar24 data cited by AFP and reported via dw.com indicates that the aircraft plummeted 5,200 meters during a frantic one-minute descent. The crew squawked code 7700 for general emergency before switching to code 7500, indicating unlawful interference or hijacking, as detailed by bbc.com.
Passengers described violent gravitational forces during the plunge. Passenger Almog Itali told bbc.com that the plane dropped like a roller coaster for 20 to 30 seconds before briefly leveling off and diving again. A woman on board named Tali Manes alerted travelers after hearing a commotion from the cockpit, according to statements by Israeli President Isaac Herzog reported by bbc.com.
Copiloto Hamam al-Hammami Targeted Captain Smit Machchhar With Emergency Axe
Investigators identified the suspected attacker as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, though official confirmation remains pending, bbc.com reported. CNN and cnnespanol.cnn.com noted that al-Hammami previously worked for Oman Air for seven years until leaving in February 2025, followed by brief stints at Royal Air Maroc and an eight-month tenure at Flydubai. Two sources told cnnespanol.cnn.com that al-Hammami was removed from his previous position at Oman Air due to concerns regarding extremist views.
Inside the cockpit, the attacker struck Captain Smit Machchhar with an axe typically reserved for emergencies, according to the UAE Attorney General cited by bbc.com. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the man had been subject to radical Islamist indoctrination.
Injured Captain Smit Machchhar Fights to Open Cockpit Door
Captain Machchhar suffered multiple wounds and was left lying on the cockpit floor while the aircraft plunged. The Indian pilot told bbc.com that he realized he had to make one final effort to save the flight. I said to myself that I had to make a last-effort to open the door from the inside,
Machchhar recounted. Despite severe injuries, he managed to unlock the door.
Passengers rushed into the cockpit.
Emergency Landing in Saudi Arabia Follows Cockpit Takeover
The Boeing 737 landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, according to dw.com and bbc.com reports. Captain Machchhar was initially treated at a local hospital before being evacuated by air to Abu Dhabi, where the Indian Embassy confirmed he is in stable condition and recovering well. The UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al Shamsi announced that the flight deck assault constituted the initiation of a terrorist act, with formal investigations ongoing under WAM reporting cited by eltiempo.com.
United States President Donald Trump stated that Washington was investigating potential Iranian involvement in the incident, telling reporters at the White House that Tehran would be hit very hard
if responsibility is proven, according to elcolombiano.com. Meanwhile, Axios reported that the U.S. military deployed additional Patriot missile systems to Saudi Arabia and Qatar alongside naval assets in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Flydubai Cockpit Attack
What aircraft was involved in the flight FZ1073 incident?
The flight was operated using a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft traveling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv with 182 total occupants on board, according to dw.com and bbc.com.
Where did the injured pilot receive medical treatment after the emergency landing?
Captain Smit Machchhar was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, before being evacuated to Abu Dhabi, where the Indian Embassy reported he was in stable condition, as detailed by bbc.com and dw.com.
Which airlines previously employed the suspect Hamam al-Hammami?
According to cnnespanol.cnn.com, al-Hammami worked for Oman Air for seven years until February 2025, completed a brief training period with Royal Air Maroc, and worked for Flydubai for eight months prior to the October 2026 incident.
What security codes did the flight transmit during the descent?
The aircraft transmitted code 7700 for general emergency before switching to code 7500, which designates an unlawful interference or hijacking situation, as reported by bbc.com.
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