By News Agencies and Reuters
Published 4 Oct 2026
An attack by a first officer on the captain during a Flydubai flight has raised serious questions about aviation security protocols, with several official accounts of the incident drawing scrutiny from online commentators and aviation experts.
Approximately two and a half hours after Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, the aircraft entered a steep descent before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Media reports indicate the first officer, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, assaulted Captain Smit Machchhar. Passengers managed to subdue al-Hammami after Machchhar opened the cockpit door during the attack, which the UAE prosecutor general said was carried out with the cockpit’s crash axe. As investigators work to establish a motive, several broader questions have surfaced on social media regarding the incident.
Why Was al-Hammami Cleared to Fly Despite Prior Security Flags?
Al-Hammami has been identified as an Omani national. On Friday, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that Omani authorities had previously barred the suspect from flying in the country due to concerns over his ideological views.
The following day, CNN reported, quoting a regional diplomatic source, that the first officer had also been removed from flight training over similar concerns and later reassigned. The network added, citing two sources familiar with the matter, that he had been removed from a position at Oman’s national airline last year over concerns about his views. It remains unclear how al-Hammami subsequently qualified for the Flydubai route despite this history.
Did a Passenger with No Flight Training Help Stabilize the Aircraft?
Reports indicate Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door while injured, allowing passengers to restrain the first officer. One of those who subdued al-Hammami was Yaniv Hayoun, described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a plumber.
In a video meeting with Netanyahu at the airport, Hayoun, 50, was asked how he knew how to operate the aircraft controls before a relief pilot took over. He responded: “I watch Air Crash Investigation, Mr Prime Minister.” Hayoun explained he “jumped back, grabbed the controls and started pulling back the handles” based on what he had seen in the Canadian documentary series in which experts analyze plane crashes. The episode has prompted widespread discussion online regarding the feasibility of a layperson managing an aircraft in flight.
Why Were There No Mass Injuries Despite a 5,180-Metre Plunge?
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft rapidly descended roughly two and a half hours after takeoff, dropping more than 5,180 metres (17,000 ft) in under two minutes. While the plunge caused panic among passengers, no injuries were reported from the maneuver itself, according to publicly available information. By comparison, an Air India flight that dropped just 90 metres (300 ft) during turbulence in August injured at least 17 people.
A flight instructor who recreated the Flydubai jet’s near-vertical dive in a simulator stated the aircraft would have exceeded its maximum structural speed, and any unsecured objects would have been thrown throughout the cabin during the negative G-forces of the recovery.
How Was an Omani National Cleared to Operate a Flight to Israel?
Israel does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Oman, and Netanyahu has previously stated that nationals from such countries are generally not permitted to operate flights into Israel. On Friday, Netanyahu said Israel was investigating whether the first officer acted under external direction, warning that anyone involved would pay a “heavy price.”
On Saturday, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that government officials had received the crew and passenger manifest in advance, which included the Omani first officer. Security sources told Haaretz that the bodies responsible for vetting foreign flight crews landing in Israel are the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety’s Security Department and the intelligence agency Mossad.
Did the First Officer Pray Immediately Before the Assault?
According to The Times of Israel, Machchhar recounted to Netanyahu on Saturday that al-Hammami had requested time to pray shortly before the attack. Four or five minutes later, Machchhar said he was struck by “a big blow” to the back of his head.
The flight departed the UAE at 7:05 am (03:05 GMT). The attack reportedly occurred approximately two and a half hours later (05:35 GMT). The predawn Islamic prayer time in the Emirates on Wednesday was 4:51 am (12:51 GMT), meaning al-Hammami’s reported prayer did not align with standard Islamic prayer times. However, it is possible he was performing a voluntary personal prayer prior to the assault.
