On September 30, a Flydubai service identified as Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai bound for Tel Aviv. Mid-air, the aircraft’s co-pilot an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly seized a crash axe and struck the captain, Smit Machchhar, in an attempt to commandeer the cockpit. The assault was described by the United Arab Emirates’ Attorney General, Hamad Saif al Shamsi, as a pre-meditated terrorist act intended to turn the passenger jet into a weapon.
Al-Hammami’s alleged motive, according to statements from UAE and Saudi investigators, was to continue the flight’s trajectory toward Israel, request clearance for approach, and then deliberately collide with the main terminal at Ben Gurion Airport—or with another aircraft on the ground—to cause the “greatest possible number of victims.” The plan, if successful, would have represented a stark escalation of airborne terrorism, echoing the tactics of past suicide-aircraft attacks.
The attempted attack on Flight FZ1073
Security footage and cockpit voice recordings, examined by Emirati prosecutors, indicate that the co-pilot initiated the assault shortly after the aircraft entered Israeli airspace. He struck the captain with the axe, attempting to wrest control of the yoke. The captain, trained in emergency procedures, resisted the violent takeover and managed to keep the aircraft airborne while signaling distress to air traffic control.
Passengers on board quickly became aware of the disturbance. Several individuals, including a former military officer, rushed to the cockpit and helped restrain the assailant. Their coordinated effort bought precious minutes, allowing the flight crew to divert the aircraft away from Israeli airspace. The jet was subsequently rerouted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it executed an emergency landing without further incident.
How the crew and passengers averted disaster
Captain Machchhar’s quick thinking, combined with the decisive actions of fellow crew members and a handful of passengers, prevented the aircraft from being used as a bomb. After the axe attack, the captain engaged the autopilot to maintain a stable flight path and communicated the emergency to both Saudi and Emirati authorities. Meanwhile, the passengers who intervened used physical force to subdue the co-pilot, ensuring he could not access the controls again.
Israeli officials later praised the captain’s bravery, likening his actions to thwarting a “9/11-style” event. Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly thanked the crew and passengers for preventing what could have been a mass-casualty tragedy. The safe landing in Tabuk allowed medical teams to examine the injured captain and assess the psychological state of the co-pilot, who remained in custody pending further investigation.
Legal and diplomatic fallout
The United Arab Emirates’ Public Prosecution opened a criminal case against al-Hammami, emphasizing that Flydubai itself bears no liability for the individual’s actions. Attorney General al Shamsi announced that the investigation would continue to uncover any possible accomplices or external influences, and that the final findings would be released after all procedural steps are completed.
Saudi and Emirati investigators cooperated closely, sharing evidence and interview transcripts. Israeli authorities, however, have not directly interrogated al-Hammami, relying instead on the information supplied by the Gulf states. The episode has spurred a brief diplomatic dialogue between Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on aviation security protocols and the handling of potential terrorist threats on commercial flights.
While the incident remains under judicial review, the broader aviation community is watching closely. The event underscores the importance of rigorous cockpit security, crew training for violent intrusions, and the vital role that vigilant passengers can play in averting catastrophe.
