Stories
Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacks Captain Mid-Flight with Crash Axe in Terror Attempt
- •Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attempted a terrorist act on Flydubai flight FZ1073 to Tel Aviv, attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe to seize control.
- •The incident occurred on September 30, causing the jet to plunge 16,000 feet in two minutes during an emergency hijacking alert.
- •Despite serious injuries, Captain Machchhar fought back, allowing crew, passengers, and off-duty pilots to overpower al-Hammami and stabilize the aircraft.
- •The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where all 180 occupants safely disembarked.
- •Investigations revealed al-Hammami had a history of extremist concerns, including visits to radical websites and a prior ban from flying in Oman, but was hired by Flydubai without formal background vetting.
Key Questions Answered
During the Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami launched a terrorist attack against Indian captain Smit Machchhar using a cockpit crash axe. The violent struggle caused the jet to plunge significantly in altitude before crew members, passengers, and off-duty pilots overpowered the attacker, enabling a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 180 occupants disembarking safely.
The co-pilot was identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national who previously trained with Oman Air. Reports indicated he had prior ties to extremist concerns linked to a stay in Syria, was barred from flying in Oman, and later relocated to Dubai where he was hired by Flydubai without formal background checks.
Despite sustaining serious injuries from the crash axe assault, Captain Smit Machchhar fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit entrance. This allowed other crew members, passengers, and two off-duty pilots to rush in, subdue the attacker, and stabilise the aircraft ahead of its emergency landing.
