Criminal10/5/2026

Flydubai Co-Pilot Suspected of Planning Attack in Advance

The co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 is suspected of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of the aircraft while it was en route to Israel. According to Reuters, he may have chosen the airline specifically because of its flights to Tel Aviv, but as far as can be determined from the source, no formal indictment has yet been filed against him.

Key facts

•Flight: Flydubai FZ1073
•More than 170 passengers and crew members
•The suspect is being held in custody in the United Arab Emirates
•The source does not state that a formal indictment has been filed
•Publication last updated: 05.10.2026

What Happened on the Aircraft

According to a statement by the attorney general of the United Arab Emirates, the co-pilot attacked the captain of flight FZ1073 with an emergency axe; the authorities classified the incident as a terrorist attack. The injured captain, Smith Machar, managed to open the cockpit door, after which passengers and crew members subdued the attacker. Another Flydubai pilot who was on the aircraft took control and landed it at an airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

What Is Known About the Alleged Plan

Two Israeli sources familiar with the details told Reuters that the suspect told UAE investigators he had searched for airlines operating flights to Tel Aviv even before applying to Flydubai. A third source claims that he intended to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. According to the same source, earlier this year the suspect had already intended to take control of another flight to Tel Aviv, but abandoned the plan, apparently after recognizing someone who was on the aircraft.

The Suspect and the Investigation

According to two Reuters sources, the co-pilot is an Omani citizen named Hammam al-Hammami, but the UAE authorities and Flydubai have not officially disclosed his identity. After initially being detained in Saudi Arabia, he was transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where he remains in custody. The source does not state whether an indictment has been filed against him. Australia’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team is also investigating his ties to the country: about 10 years ago, he studied at RMIT University in Melbourne.

Israel’s Response

There were more than 170 passengers and crew members on the aircraft, most of them Israelis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that citizens of countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, including Oman, cannot operate flights to Israel. Following the incident, he ordered a review of the security measures of foreign airlines operating routes to Israel.

What this means for you

For passengers, the incident may lead to stricter screening of aircrews and a review of safety rules on flights to Israel operated by foreign airlines. At this stage, the matter remains under investigation and the claims come from anonymous sources: the information about the motives and the earlier plan does not constitute a judicial finding presented in the source.

Find a lawyer for this topic

Case analysis based on court rulings