Omani co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami attacked Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2024, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Al‑Hammami allegedly seized a cockpit crash axe, slashing the captain’s arm and striking him repeatedly before attempting to seize the controls; the captain, though wounded, triggered the cockpit door release, allowing cabin crew and passengers to intervene.
Israeli senior officials told CNN that the investigation found no link between al‑Hammami and any extremist group or foreign government, and that the attacker acted alone.
Investigators in the UAE, Israel and Saudi Arabia are examining whether the co‑pilot manipulated the engine fuel switches to “Cutoff” in a second attempt to bring the Boeing 737 down after the initial assault failed.
The incident has spurred Israel to order a comprehensive review of foreign pilot vetting protocols, while the UAE Attorney General labelled the event a “terrorist act” and called for tighter security measures.