UAE Prosecutor Accuses FlyDubai Co-Pilot of Attempted Terrorist Hijacking Using Crash Axe

The United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general stated on Saturday that the co-pilot of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight attacked the captain with a crash axe in an attempted terrorist act. Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the co-pilot of flight FZ1073 attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances, motives, and any connections, alongside technical examinations and analysis of physical and digital evidence, according to the state news agency WAM.

The co-pilot, identified by Associated Press sources as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, was aboard the Tel Aviv-bound flight carrying 182 people. Reports from the AP and the Wall Street Journal indicate he had previously been banned from flying by Oman due to concerns over radical ideological views. He was subsequently hired by the UAE-based carrier FlyDubai, though the extent of his vetting remains unclear.

Born in the UAE, al-Hammami previously worked for Oman’s national airline but was removed from flight duties over signs of extremist views and reassigned to an administrative role at Oman Air. Details on his background remain scarce; his Instagram account was active until the day of the flight before being deleted.

How al-Hammami was permitted to operate in the cockpit is a central focus for investigators. Israel maintains agreements with foreign carriers to prevent pilots who are citizens of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from flying into the country. Israel and Oman do not have formal diplomatic ties.

Security agencies from four regional nations are collaborating to establish a motive, assisted by the United States and other Western governments, according to the AP. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radicalization,” though he provided no evidence. Israel’s government had no immediate comment on Saturday.

The FlyDubai captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, recounted the ordeal in an emotional video from his hospital bed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Speaking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar said he used his remaining strength to unlock the cockpit door while under attack, allowing passengers and crew to enter, subdue the co-pilot, and stabilize the aircraft. “I was fighting for my life,” Machchhar said. “When I was lying on the floor I could feel the aircraft was going down. I knew exactly that this would be the last push. I told myself that if I didn’t get up, there would be a problem. I managed to open the door, and then everyone else came in.”

Hailed globally as a hero, Machchhar received praise from UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash, who commended his courage and professionalism in the face of a dangerous terrorist act and potential disaster. Gargash emphasized the need for vigilance against extremism and terrorism, warning against conspiracy theories.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the UAE’s aviation community and plunged the region’s travel industry into crisis, raising serious questions about aviation security amid a Middle East already rattled by regional tensions involving the U.S. and Iran. Following the incident, the UAE suspended all flights to Israel, while Israel’s El Al canceled its scheduled flights to the UAE. The two nations agreed on repatriation flights to return passengers.

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