Flydubai Co-Pilot Accused of Attempted Hijacking Had Al-Qaeda Links

The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv attacked the captain with an emergency axe and attempted to hijack the aircraft, according to authorities. Omani national Hamam Al Hammami, 29, severely injured Captain Smit Machchhar during the incident on Wednesday morning. The plane, Flight FZ1073, carrying 182 people, plummeted 14,000 feet in 29 seconds before passengers and crew intervened to regain control. The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Investigations revealed that Al Hammami had posted content associated with al-Qaeda and appeared to show plans targeting Israeli airlines on a LinkedIn profile three years prior to the attack. The posts, which have since been deleted, reportedly included videos filmed in cockpits featuring El Al and Arkia planes, and images of al-Qaeda leaders. The profile also featured an AI-generated image of holy Islamic sites linked by a glowing trail, accompanied by a poem about rejecting humiliation and defending dignity.

Al Hammami, who studied aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in the UK and engineering in Australia, had previously worked with Oman Air. Officials stated he was removed from flying duties in 2024 due to concerns he may have been influenced by radical groups during time spent in Syria, and was reassigned to an administrative role. He later worked for Royal Air Maroc, where his application to continue employment was rejected after an initial training period.

While Al Hammami underwent standard security checks before being hired by Flydubai, which focused on criminal convictions, these checks did not extend to a deeper examination for signs of radicalization, according to a Gulf diplomat. The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation to determine if Al Hammami acted alone or had connections to extremist groups. He was born in the UAE, with a Syrian mother and Omani nationality. Al Hammami is reportedly cooperating with authorities.

Flydubai confirmed the incident involved a "safety incident" in the cockpit and that the flight diverted. The airline has suspended flights to and from Israel as the investigation proceeds. The UAE Attorney General characterized the event as a "terrorist act," while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the suspect had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination."

Passengers and crew were credited with preventing a potential catastrophe. One passenger, Yaniv Hayoun, described how he broke down the cockpit door, subdued Al Hammami, and assisted in leveling the aircraft during its steep descent. Hayoun credited his actions to watching aviation disaster documentaries. Captain Machchhar received medical attention in a Saudi hospital. Officials expressed relief that the incident did not escalate into another "September 11"-style attack.