Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Captain With Axe, UAE Officials Say

More than 170 people survived a mid-air cockpit attack on September 30, 2026, when a Flydubai co-pilot struck the captain with an emergency axe and tried to plunge the aircraft toward the ground, according to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attorney general. The plane was at an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet when the incident began, carrying 174 passengers.

Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, plummeted approximately 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) two and a half hours after takeoff. The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after sending a mayday signal while crossing Jordanian airspace. UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi described the incident as an attempted “tindakan teroris” (terrorist act) and an attempt to seize control of the plane.

Cockpit Struggle and Passenger Intervention

Captain Smit Machchhar, 38, was severely injured during the assault. Machchhar told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he was fighting for his life and fell prostrate due to the severity of his wounds.

The situation was eventually stabilized when two other Flydubai pilots, who happened to be passengers on the flight, took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia. Other passengers, including a dentist and a plumber, were also credited with helping to save the flight. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar for showing “extraordinary courage” and “firm determination” to protect others while severely wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the bravery of the pilot and passengers.

Profile of the Accused

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the attacker as an Omani citizen who had undergone “indoktrinasi radikal Islamis” (radical Islamist indoctrination).

While not officially confirmed, several media outlets have identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami. Reports indicate the following regarding his history:

• Oman Air: He reportedly worked there for about seven years until February 2025. Sources claim he was removed from flight training due to concerns over radical views but was given another role within the airline.
• Royal Air Maroc: He joined in June 2025 and underwent three months of training but left in January 2026. The airline stated he was refused employment after his training, though it did not provide a reason.
• Australia: Authorities are investigating his ties to the country, where he held a student visa from 2014 and studied between 2015 and 2017. His visa was cancelled in 2019 for not being enrolled in an education program.

Al-Hammami was born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother and spent part of his life in the UAE. He developed an interest in aviation after a seminar at age 19, before he had ever left India.

Authorities Investigate Attack While Iran Denies Involvement

While UAE and Israeli authorities view the event as a terrorist attack, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, claimed the incident was “clumsily engineered” to cast blame on Iran or other regional nations. Baghaei stated that the event itself is doubted and based on unverified statements, suggesting even preschoolers could see it was designed to create insecurity.

The attacker was moved from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The UAE Attorney General stated that the investigation is ongoing to fully uncover the situation and the motives behind the attack.

Oman Air and the Dubai government media office have not yet responded to requests for comment from CNN.

More on this story: Flydubai flight plunges 18,000 feet after co-pilot allegedly stabs pilot · Flydubai Copilot Attacked Captain in Attempt to Crash Boeing 737 Max