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FlyDubai Co-Pilot Confesses Plan to Crash Plane After Attacking Captain
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News18•04-10-2026, 15:09
FlyDubai Co-Pilot Confesses Plan to Crash Plane After Attacking Captain
- •FlyDubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami admitted to investigators his intention to deliberately crash the passenger aircraft after attacking Captain Smit Machchhar with an axe.
- •Hammami, an Omani national, had previously drawn attention for browsing extremist websites and was banned from flying by his former employer, Oman Air, before being hired by FlyDubai.
- •During FlyDubai Flight 1073, the co-pilot attacked the captain, causing the plane to plunge over 16,000 feet in 30 seconds before passengers intervened and subdued Hammami.
- •Investigators are examining Hammami's motive, how he was hired by FlyDubai despite his past, and reviewing his deleted social media posts which revealed misogynistic views and extremist leanings.
- •The incident has raised significant questions about aviation security, pilot screening processes, and the classification of the event as an attempted terrorist attack by UAE authorities.
Key Questions Answered
Hamam al-Hammami acknowledged his intention to deliberately bring down the plane and stated that he was not afraid of death.
Oman Air banned Hammami from flying after authorities discovered his interest in browsing extremist websites, subsequently sending him through a deradicalisation programme and assigning him a desk job.
The wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to rush inside, pull Hammami away from the controls, tie him up using earphone cables, and restrain him.
