Hamam al‑Hammami, 29, admitted on September 30 that he deliberately attempted to bring down flydubai Flight 1073 en route to Tel Aviv. Using a cockpit‑crash axe, he seized the captain’s seat, causing the aircraft to drop more than 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds before the captain forced the cockpit door open and the crew, aided by two off‑duty pilots, stabilized the plane for an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The incident follows a history of radicalisation that began while al‑Hammami spent part of his youth in war‑torn Syria. Authorities say he had visited extremist websites and was banned from flying by Oman Air after the discovery of such activity. He was later placed in a deradicalisation program and reassigned to a desk job before moving to the UAE, where flydubai hired him in February 2026.
Details of the hiring process remain opaque. The airline’s records show no overt vetting of his past, and Oman reportedly received no requests from other countries to provide background information. Investigators are probing whether the airline was aware of his previous extremist interests when they cleared him for duty.
Al‑Hammami’s social media archive, comprising over 3,000 screenshots from a deleted X account, reveals a pattern of conservative, misogynistic posts, including statements against women working and advocating for veiled religious women. While the posts alone do not prove violent intent, they are being examined alongside his web‑surfing history to establish a broader radicalisation narrative.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel are coordinating the investigation, seeking to determine if al‑Hammami acted alone or was supported by external extremist groups, especially Iran. The outcome of the probe will likely shape future hiring protocols for airlines operating in the region.