Stories
Flydubai Crew Asked Passengers to Untie 'Terrorist' Co-Pilot, Israelis Claim
- •Israeli passengers Tzvika Manes and Daniel Schlichter claim Flydubai crew members asked them to release the Omani co-pilot, Hamam Al Hammami, who allegedly attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe.
- •The incident occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, leading to an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •Passengers overpowered and restrained Al Hammami with zip ties and headphone wires after he attacked the pilot, while reserve pilots took control of the aircraft.
- •Manes, motivated by his daughters' distress, intervened and, along with other passengers, kept the accused away from the cockpit despite crew requests to untie him.
- •The UAE described the incident as an attempted ‘terrorist act’, and Flydubai stated it cannot comment due to an ongoing investigation.
Key Questions Answered
On September 30, Flydubai flight FZ1073 experienced an emergency when the Omani co-pilot, Hamam Al Hammami, allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe inside the cockpit. Passengers intervened and overpowered the co-pilot, and the aircraft made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after squawking emergency codes.
After Israeli passengers Tzvika Manes and Daniel Schlichter helped restrain the aggressive co-pilot with zip ties and headphone wires, some cabin crew members insistently asked them to release the suspect. This unexpected request raised immediate suspicions among the passengers, leading them to keep the co-pilot away from the cockpit and guard the area themselves.
Following the struggle and the rapid descent of the aircraft, the flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Reserve pilots took control of the plane during the incident, and while the UAE described the event as an attempted terrorist act, authorities and regulators initiated an ongoing investigation.
