Co-pilot arrested after mid-flight attack on Flydubai aircraft

On September 30, 2026, a violent confrontation occurred on a Flydubai flight (FZ1073) traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hammam al-Hamami, attacked the Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, inside the cockpit using an axe, causing the aircraft to descend rapidly. Passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the assailant, allowing the plane to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The UAE Prosecutor General has officially classified the incident as a terrorist attack. Reports indicate that al-Hamami had previously been removed from flight training duties at Oman Air in 2025 due to concerns over his radical Islamist views. Despite this history, he was hired by Flydubai. Pilot Machchhar sustained serious head and hand injuries during the struggle but is currently recovering; he has been praised by officials from the UAE and India for his heroic actions in preventing a potential catastrophe involving 174 people on board.

Authorities in the UAE are conducting an ongoing investigation into the suspect's motives, digital footprints, and potential links to extremist groups like Al-Qaeda. The incident has triggered a global review of cockpit security protocols and airline hiring background checks.