United Arab Emirates prosecutors revealed on October 9, 2026, that Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami planned to crash Flydubai Flight FZ1073 into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport terminal on September 30, 2026, aiming for maximum casualties in a 9/11-inspired attack. Al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with an axe before being subdued by passengers and crew. Investigators found al-Hammami passed Flydubai's vetting despite becoming radicalized while studying in Australia in 2017.
The inflight attack and emergency landing
- ▪On September 30, 2026, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 carrying 174 passengers departed Dubai for Tel Aviv before an attempted hijacking forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
- ▪During the cockpit struggle on September 30, 2026, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 plunged between 14,000 and 17,000 feet before being stabilized
- ▪During the September 30, 2026 Flydubai Flight FZ1073, co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit using an axe
- ▪After captain Smit Machchhar opened the cockpit door of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, passengers and crew members intervened to subdue co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami
- ▪Two reserve pilots aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026
The target and plan of the attack
- ▪UAE authorities reported co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami intended to crash Flydubai Flight FZ1073 into Ben Gurion Airport's main passenger terminal in Tel Aviv to cause the greatest possible number of human casualties
- ▪Investigators found that co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami operated two prior Flydubai flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and Ben Gurion Airport layout
The suspect's radicalization and inspiration
- ▪Suspect Hamam al-Hammami prepared physically and psychologically for the planned attack on Ben Gurion Airport by consuming online terrorist propaganda and taking private boxing lessons
- ▪UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi stated that co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, who plotted to attack Flydubai Flight FZ1073, began showing signs of radicalization in 2017 while studying at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia
- ▪Suspect Hamam al-Hammami confessed that the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States inspired him to pursue an aviation career to execute a similar operation
The official investigation and legal proceedings
- ▪UAE investigators continue to examine physical evidence, technical reports, and potential accomplice connections following the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073
- ▪UAE public prosecutors launched a formal inquiry into the Flydubai Flight FZ1073 hijacking attempt on October 1, 2026, asserting territorial jurisdiction because Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was registered in Dubai
- ▪UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi announced on October 9, 2026 that suspect Hamam al-Hammami confessed in the presence of his lawyer to acting alone
The suspect's employment history and vetting
- ▪Suspect Hamam al-Hammami met all professional and security requirements for Flydubai, including holding a pilot licence and submitting a certificate of good conduct
- ▪UAE investigators found that Flydubai recruitment procedures for co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami revealed no prior indications of extremist views or terrorist intentions before his hiring in January 2026
- ▪Suspect Hamam al-Hammami was removed from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns over his radical views before being reassigned to another role at the airline
- ▪Before joining Flydubai in January 2026, suspect Hamam al-Hammami worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024 and trained briefly with Royal Air Maroc in 2025
Debatable claims
- ▪Flydubai's recruitment vetting was inadequate to detect the co-pilot's radicalization
- ▪Oman Air bears responsibility for the Flydubai plot by failing to report the suspect
- ▪Airlines should be legally mandated to share pilot security and radicalization flags globally
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