Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted ‘Terrorist Attack,’ UAE Says
UAE Investigates Alleged Terror Plot on Flydubai Flight to Tel Aviv
Kabarsaji.com – United Arab Emirates investigators say a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the aircraft’s captain during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight attempted to carry out a terrorist attack using a crash ax kept in the cockpit for emergencies.
The incident involved Flydubai Flight 1073, which was carrying 182 people, including four pilots. The captain was stabbed during the flight in what investigators believe was an effort to bring down the aircraft. Two additional pilots who were on board intervened, took control of the jet and brought it down safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
A crash ax is normally stored inside an aircraft cockpit for emergency situations. Investigators said the weapon was used during the confrontation between the co-pilot and captain.
Questions Over the Co-Pilot’s Background
Officials from Western and Gulf countries identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his name.
The case has drawn attention to aviation recruitment and security screening after claims that al-Hammami had previously been prevented from flying in Oman because of concerns over radical ideological views. He was later hired by Flydubai and assigned to a route connecting the UAE and Israel.
Authorities have not clarified whether Oman’s concerns were shared with other governments or airlines. The specific nature of the alleged radicalization has also not been made public.
Two people familiar with the matter said the co-pilot had been removed from a position at Oman’s national airline last year amid concerns over extremist beliefs. A separate informed source said Omani authorities had concluded that he held extremist views.
Flight Was Bound for Tel Aviv
The attack occurred on a particularly sensitive international route. The UAE and Israel established formal relations through the Abraham Accords in 2020, opening direct air links and broader commercial and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
That context has increased scrutiny of the alleged attack, especially because the flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft’s safe landing in Saudi Arabia prevented what could have become a far more serious aviation disaster.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone what he described as Islamist radical indoctrination and had intended to crash the plane. He also said authorities were examining whether the suspect acted independently or under instructions from others.
“Underwent Islamist radical indoctrination”
Netanyahu warned that any person found to have been involved would face a “heavy price.”
“Heavy price.”
Investigation Continues
Investigators are still working to establish how the attack developed inside the cockpit, how the co-pilot gained access to the emergency ax, and whether there were warning signs before the flight departed Dubai.
Another central question is whether the suspect was acting as a lone individual or had links to an extremist organization. A Gulf diplomat said investigators were examining whether the Omani co-pilot was a “lone wolf” or had any connection to extremist groups.
“Lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups.”
The presence of four pilots on the aircraft proved critical. After the captain was wounded, the other pilots were able to assume operational control and divert the flight to Tabuk. Their intervention ensured that passengers and crew reached the ground safely despite the alleged attempt to disrupt the flight.
The case is likely to intensify attention on pilot vetting procedures, information-sharing between aviation authorities and airlines, and the safeguards designed to protect flight crews during emergencies. Airlines rely on extensive background screening, medical evaluations and recurrent training, but the alleged incident highlights the importance of ensuring that relevant security concerns are communicated across borders.
For passengers, the safe landing also underscores the value of layered cockpit procedures and trained crews. Commercial aviation is built around redundancy: when one crew member is unable to perform duties, other qualified pilots can take over. In this case, that structure enabled the aircraft to land safely after an extraordinary mid-flight emergency.
Authorities in the UAE and other countries involved continue to examine the incident as they seek to determine the suspect’s motives, prior history and any possible outside connections.
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