Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national and former Oman Air senior first officer, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe inside the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026, attempting to crash the Boeing 737 en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to reports from the New York Post, Haaretz, and other outlets.
Captain injured in cockpit assault as passengers overpower attacker
Flight FZ1073 plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the mid-air assault, NDTV and Bhaskar English reported. Captain Machchhar sustained injuries from the crash axe but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower al-Hammami before a second pair of flydubai pilots landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Emirati prosecutor general officials and UAE presidential diplomatic adviser Anwar Mohammed Gargash stated that al-Hammami attempted to take control of the aircraft in a terrorist act, Haaretz reported.
Extremist posts reveal violent misogyny and severe Islamic punishments
The posts included statements calling for severe Islamic punishments against Jews and homosexuals, alongside misogynistic remarks such as describing women as cheap meat and advocating for physical violence. In one exchange, al-Hammami reportedly said a man gave a woman a “preemptive slap” to make her “redefine her boundaries,” comparing the act to Russia slapping Ukraine to “adjust its borders.” He also reportedly wrote that if a woman “so much as breathed” around a man, he should “stomp on her head,” and called another man a “coward and a scoundrel” for not violently assaulting his wife. An Israeli official told the Times of Israel that the account clearly showed radicalization into jihadist ideology, including threats to kill Jews. CNN analysis cited by Haaretz added that a since-deleted LinkedIn profile bearing al-Hammami’s name uploaded footage of Israeli aircraft and images of Al-Qaeda figures nine hours after the attempted hijacking. One clip was geolocated to Dubai International Airport and filmed on October 11, 2023, while another post featured an AI-generated image of Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina with a poem about defending dignity and rejecting death.
Al-Qaeda branch praises attack and urges airlines targeting
Al-Qaeda’s Yemen-based branch, AQAP, published an editorial in its weekly publication ‘Al-Bayan’ praising al-Hammami and calling for similar attacks on US and Israeli airlines, NDTV reported. Titled ‘Between September 11 and September 30’, the piece featured images of the World Trade Center attacks and flight FZ1073, claiming that “aircraft carrying Zionists, Americans, and forces from the various camps of disbelief warring against Islam still roam the skies.” The editorial described the US as an “empire of evil” that would fall and suggested that even non-Muslims could target the US and Israel to serve Islamic interests. Bhaskar English noted that al-Hammami previously worked for Oman Air and Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc before joining flydubai approximately eight months prior to the incident. He was removed from his job at Oman’s national airline last year due to concerns over his extremist Islamist views, and ABC News reported he had been suspended in 2024 after “extremist materials” were found in his possession while he was a trainee.
University reviews coursework after suspect undergoes Islamist radicalization
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated al-Hammami had “undergone Islamist radicalization” and intended to crash the plane with its passengers. Buckinghamshire New University, where al-Hammami studied aviation management remotely while living in Oman, stated that no concerns were raised during his three-year course, though the college is reviewing the coursework. The university noted its license to sponsor international students was suspended by the British government for reasons unrelated to al-Hammami. Meanwhile, Israeli carriers Arkia and Israir operated repatriation flights from Dubai to Ben-Gurion International Airport after flydubai suspended its Israel service following the attack, according to Haaretz. Two additional repatriation flights were scheduled for Saturday, with baggage returned on separate aircraft at the request of the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions About the flydubai Hijacking Attempt
What was the destination of flydubai flight FZ1073?
The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Who operated the aircraft after the co-pilot’s attack?
After injured Indian Captain Smit Machchhar opened the cockpit door and passengers subdued the attacker, a second pair of flydubai pilots landed the Boeing 737 safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
What previous airlines employed Hamam al-Hammami?
Before joining flydubai, al-Hammami worked as a senior first officer for Oman Air and also spent time with Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc.
How have officials characterized the September 30 incident?
Emirati officials, including senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Mohammed Gargash and the Emirati prosecutor general, formally classified the mid-air assault as a terrorist act.
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