Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Captain with Crash Axe, UAE Reports

The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 used a crash axe to attack the captain inside the cockpit in what the United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general has described as an attempted “terrorist” attack, according to the state news agency WAM. The flydubai co-pilot crash axe attack happened on Wednesday aboard the Dubai–Tel Aviv service, sending the Boeing 737 into a plunge of more than 14,000 feet before passengers and crew subdued the attacker and the jet made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with 182 people on board.

FAKTA

• Flight: flydubai FZ1073, Dubai to Tel Aviv, Wednesday 30 September 2026
• Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8 (registration A6-FKF, according to flight-tracking reports)
• On board: 182 people in total, according to officials
• What happened: the co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit’s crash axe and tried to take control of the aircraft
• Plunge: the jet lost more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds, according to flight-tracking data cited by Reuters
• Landing: emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities
• Official line: UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi called it an attempted “terrorist” attack; a specialized investigation team has been formed

The crash axe attack inside the cockpit

According to the prosecutor general’s statement on Saturday, reported by WAM, the co-pilot attacked the pilot with a crash axe — a tool normally kept in the cockpit for emergencies — and then attempted to take control of the aircraft. Flight-tracking data cited by Reuters shows the aircraft losing more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds during the struggle. The transponder switched from the general-emergency squawk 7700 to 7500, the international code for unlawful interference, before returning to 7700.

Despite serious injuries, Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to force their way in and restrain the co-pilot. Two off-duty flydubai pilots who were travelling as passengers then helped operate the aircraft until it landed safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities.

The cockpit of a commercial airliner at cruising altitude. The attack on flight FZ1073 unfolded inside the cockpit, where reinforced doors are designed to stop intruders from outside — not an attack from within.

The suspect: barred from flying by Oman over extremist views

The co-pilot has been identified by sources as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, according to Reuters, which cited a source with direct knowledge of the matter. UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Oman had banned him from flying over concerns that he had adopted radical ideological views.

ABC News, citing intelligence and law-enforcement officials, reported that al-Hammami was flagged as a security risk while training as a co-pilot with Oman Air in 2024, after extremist material was found in his possession; he was suspended from flying duties and later moved to an administrative role. He subsequently worked outside Oman before joining flydubai. How he came to be assigned to a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight is a central question for investigators: Israel and Oman have no formal diplomatic relations, and Israel says it has long-standing agreements with foreign carriers to keep pilots from such countries off Israel-bound flights.

Investigation widens across the region

The UAE attorney general has formed a specialized Public Prosecution investigation team, instructed to establish the facts and motives and determine whether the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning or outside direction, according to the Emirates News Agency. The UAE says it holds criminal jurisdiction because the aircraft is UAE-registered and flies under the UAE flag.

Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot after the Tabuk landing and later handed him over to the UAE, where the investigation is now centred. Israeli investigators are taking part alongside Emirati authorities, Reuters reported, and an Israeli government official said the probe would examine the suspect’s motives and background. On Friday, senior UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash called the attack a “dangerous terrorist act”. Flydubai said the circumstances remained under investigation and that it was not in a position to comment further.

Captain recovering, passengers safe

Both pilots were taken to hospital with injuries after the landing. Captain Machchhar, an Indian national with about 17 years of flying experience, was treated in Saudi Arabia and later transferred to Abu Dhabi, where he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by video call from his hospital bed on Friday and was reported to be in stable condition.

All passengers and crew were confirmed safe and accounted for. Flydubai dispatched replacement aircraft to Tabuk to carry passengers onward to Tel Aviv, where they arrived at Ben Gurion Airport.

Conclusion

The attack on flight FZ1073 is one of the most serious cockpit-security incidents in recent aviation history — and a stark reminder that the reinforced cockpit doors introduced after 2001 were built to stop attackers coming from outside the cockpit, not from within it. The central unanswered question is how a pilot previously barred in Oman over extremist views was hired by flydubai and assigned to an Israel-bound flight. The UAE-led investigation, with Saudi, Israeli and US cooperation, will have to answer it. Follow continuing coverage of this story on Watan News and in our World section.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on flydubai flight FZ1073?

The co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe inside the cockpit and tried to take control of the aircraft. The Boeing 737 plunged more than 14,000 feet before passengers, crew and two off-duty pilots subdued the attacker and the jet made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Who is the co-pilot?

Sources identified him to Reuters as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national; UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity. Saudi authorities detained him after the landing and later handed him over to the UAE, where he faces a terrorism investigation.

Why was he barred from flying in Oman?

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Oman had banned him from flying over concerns about radical ideological views. ABC News reported that extremist material was found in his possession while he was training as a co-pilot with Oman Air in 2024, after which he was suspended and moved to an administrative role.

How was the plane saved?

Despite serious injuries, Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door so passengers and crew could restrain the co-pilot. Two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling as passengers then helped operate the aircraft until it landed safely in Tabuk.

What is the UAE’s official position?

Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has described the incident as an attempted “terrorist” attack, senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash called it a “dangerous terrorist act”, and a specialized Public Prosecution investigation team has been formed.