FlyDubai copilot attacked captain with axe; aircraft lost thousands of metres altitude
Copilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked the captain with an emergency axe during the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight. Passengers restrained him, and the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
FlyDubai copilot suspected of terrorism following cockpit axe attack
A copilot for FlyDubai attacked the captain with an emergency axe aboard the aircraft during flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to reports citing Sky News. The attacker attempted to take control of the aeroplane and crash it. There were 182 people on board.
The copilot was identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a citizen of Oman born in the United Arab Emirates to a Syrian mother, according to Associated Press. The Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates, Hamad Saif al Shamsi, confirmed that al-Hammami attacked the captain in the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Sharp altitude drop and passenger intervention
Data from the Flightradar24 monitoring system showed that the aircraft—a Boeing 737 Max 8—descended from 10,360 metres to approximately 5,060 metres in less than two minutes, exceeding maximum flight speed by nearly 100 knots. The aircraft subsequently disappeared briefly from tracking systems, and the irregular altitude fluctuations recorded suggest it was being flown manually, without autopilot assistance.
Indian captain Smit Machchhar was injured during the confrontation but managed to open the cockpit door. At that point, passengers and other off-duty pilots on board intervened, restrained the attacker, and took control of the aircraft.
The control tower at "Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz" International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, received the emergency call from flight FZ1073 at 8:44 local time. The airport management company, Cluster2 Airports, declared a state of emergency and mobilised assistance teams. The aircraft landed safely at 9:45. Both pilots were taken to hospital, the airport operator confirmed.
Injured captain praised by Indian Prime Minister
Smit Machchhar recounted in a video call from a hospital in Abu Dhabi how he acted while under attack.
"When I was on the ground, I felt the aircraft was crashing and I knew this was my last chance to do something. I knew the door was there," the pilot said.
Asked why he continued to fight despite being seriously injured, he replied: "I cannot let people die."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke directly with Machchhar, commending how he reacted during the attack.
Investigation: terrorism, "lone wolf" or extremist network
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are treating the incident as a possible terrorist attack. Attorney General Hamad Saif al Shamsi stated that investigations are seeking to establish the circumstances of the incident, the attacker's motives, and any possible connections with extremist individuals or groups, based on both physical and digital evidence.
The investigation revealed that Hamam al-Hammami was no longer authorised to pilot in Oman, with authorities there suspecting he had adopted extremist views. He was subsequently hired by FlyDubai. It is not yet clear what checks were carried out before his employment.
A Gulf diplomat stated that the investigation is seeking to determine whether al-Hammami acted as a "lone wolf" or was linked to extremist groups. So far, officials have presented no public evidence of such a link.
International reactions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the suspect had been subjected to "Islamist radicalisation" and was very likely attempting to crash the aircraft. Netanyahu added that whoever sent him would pay a very high price.
"We are now investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very high price," Netanyahu said in a video message.
American President Donald Trump stated that initial information received by the American administration suggested a possible link with Iran and that the United States would respond firmly if the investigation confirms involvement of Iranian agents. Investigators have not so far presented evidence attesting to such a link.
FlyDubai makes no comment pending conclusion of investigation
FlyDubai stated that the incident is still under investigation and that it cannot provide additional information until the investigation clarifies all the circumstances. Israeli investigators are participating alongside their counterparts from the United Arab Emirates in reviewing the copilot's background and any possible contacts with extremist individuals or organisations.
Source: Gândul